Measures to preserve tawilis in place even before IUCN announcement —BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Friday said measures have been implemented to conserve tawilis even before the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN) declared it as endangered.

"Matagal nang inaksyunan ng kaukulang ahensiya 'yan sa atin. Nahuli na 'yung pagsabi nila ng endangered, tina-tackle na ngayon natin," BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona said in an interview on News To Go.

Gongona said the BFAR is already conducting its studies and research for the production of tawilis and the protection of its habitat.

"We are expecting na 'pag may mga closures, less 'yung produksyon talaga dahil siyempre kailangan pangalagaan natin ang habitat nila, and then in the long run talagang dadami 'yan," he said.

He said IUCN's declaration that tawilis is endangered is for its preservation purposes.

"Ang others na alam nila na dito lang sa atin 'yan, kailangan talaga na ideklara mo na parang ganu'n na 'yon, endangered, because we have to, well, atin lang 'yan eh, sa atin lang meron. Kailangan protektahan para hindi maging endangered."

Banning the fishing of tawilis during its off-peak season is being enforced as part of the conservation measures.

The IUCN said many factors contribute to the dwindling number of tawilis in Taal Lake, among them fishing, environmental pollution, and occurrence of invasive species like tilapia and other types of fish. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News