• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will enforce a three-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea starting Nov. 15 to allow fish populations to replenish and ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
Dubbed “Pahuway sang Baybay,” the closed fishing season will run until Feb. 15, 2027. It prohibits the catching, selling, and buying of selected species of sardines, herrings, and mackerels in designated fishing grounds.
The fishing ban covers portions of the Visayan Sea, including the northern Iloilo coastal towns of Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and Carles; Roxas City and the municipalities of Pilar, Pontevedra, and President Roxas in Capiz; the northern Negros Occidental localities of E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Sagay City, Cadiz City, and Escalante City; and Bantayan Island in Cebu.
In a statement, BFAR said the restriction covers sardines locally known as tuloy, tamban, and tabagak; herrings or balantiyong; and mackerels, including guma-a, bulao, and hasa-hasa.
BFAR said maritime patrols and enforcement operations will be intensified during the closed season in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and local government maritime enforcement units.
Violators face fines ranging from P20,000 to P500,000, depending on the scale of the fishing operation, as well as possible imprisonment.
Under BFAR regulations, municipal fishers caught violating the ban will be fined at least P20,000, in addition to a penalty equivalent to three times the market value of the confiscated catch.
Small-scale commercial fishing operators face a fine of P100,000, while medium- and large-scale commercial fishing operators may be fined from P300,000 to P500,000 and jailed for up to six months.
Authorities will also confiscate illegally caught fish, fishing gear, and other equipment used in prohibited activities.
The annual three-month fishing ban aims to provide a spawning and breeding period for sardines, herrings, and mackerels, allowing fish stocks to recover and helping sustain the livelihood of fishing communities in the Visayan Sea. | GPB
