• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Commercial fishers can now resume operations within the conservation zone in the Visayan Sea, including areas in Negros Occidental, with the lifting Feb. 16 of the three-month ban on catching sardines, herring, and mackerels.
The closed fishing season for these fish species in the waters of E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Sagay City, Cadiz City, and Escalante City in the province, as well as other part of the Visayan Sea conservation area started Nov. 15.
“Ang closed season sa simple nga tinaga, pahuway ini sang babay – pahuway sang Visayan Sea. Ti-on sang spawning ukon pagbuto sang mga tuloy, tamban, tabagak, balantiyong, guma-a, bulao, kag hasa-hasa, sa sulod sang tatlo ka bulan…,” the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas had explained.
Aside from the northern part of Negros Occidental, the Visayan Sea also spans north Iloilo, specifically Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and Carles; Roxas City, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, and Panay in the province of Capiz; and Bantayan Island in Cebu.
Under BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3, the annual three-month closed fishing season covers species of sardines, like bali sardine, or tamban, tunsoy, haul-haul; goldstripe sardine, or halobaybay, lapad, tamban lison, lapa; fimbriated sardine or tunsoy, lao-lao, tabagak, liryan; and rainbow sardine, or tulis, balantiyong, hilos-hilos.
Commercial fishers are also prohibited from catching short-bodied mackerel or hasa-hasa, and indian mackerel or bulao and alumahan, as well as their larvae, fry or young, locally as lupoy, silinyasi, linatsay, or manansi.
The BFAR said this is to ensure the protection and conservation of these species in the Visayan Sea, which is a major source of food, income, and livelihood for some 20 local government units in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Cebu, and even Masbate.
The closed fishing season is a science-based conservation measure aimed at protecting target fish species during their peak spawning period, the BFAR stressed in a statement. “This allows mature fish to freely reproduce, and juveniles to grow and mature, thereby promoting regeneration, sustainability, and the long-term availability of these valuable fish stocks.” | CGC
