BFAR declares start of 3-month closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula, Visayan Sea

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Thursday the start of the closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayan Sea started on Wednesday.

In a public briefing, BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit head Nazario Briguera said the season will last for a total of three months or from November 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024.

“Ginagawa po natin ito bilang conservation measure para po magkaroon ng pagkakataon 'yung ating fish packs na makapagrepopulate, magkapagspawn,” said Briguera.

(We do this as a conservation measure so that the fish packs can have a chance to repopulate, respawn,)

In an advisory on its Facebook page, BFAR said the pause in sardines fishing activities cover Zamboanga Peninsula, which includes East Sulu, Basilan Strait, and Sibugay Bay.

Catching, selling, and buying of sardines, mackerel, and herring in a portion of Visayan Sea are also prohibited.

Briguera said that the period was determined scientifically by observing when fish packs would often have higher chances of repopulation.

“Tuloy-tuloy na pag-aaral at tintitingnan kung saan 'yung period talaga ng taon na nandoon 'yung mataas na insidente ng spawning o 'yung pangigitlog ng isda at nakita na kailangan i-adjust para mas lumaki pa ang mga isda na nasa juvenile stage,” he said.

(We are continuously studying and observing which period of the year has a high incident of spawning or breeding of fish, and we saw that we need to adjust so that fish in juvenile stages will have a chance to grow more.

The previous duration of the closed fishing season was from December 1 to March 1.

"...[R]esearch conducted under the National Stock Assessment Program of the BFAR and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) in Region 9...shows that the spawning period of mature sardines peaks during the months of October until January," BFAR said in an advisory.

Violators of the closed fishing season will be penalized and have their catch confiscated, particularly the commercial fishing vessels.

“[Commercial fishing vessels] lang po naman talaga ang sakop nung closed fishing season. Bawal po sa commercial fishing po 'pag panahon ng closed fishing season, subalit doon po sa mga municipal fisherfolk po tuloy naman sila sa pangingisda,” Briguera said.

(The closed fishing season only really affects commercial fishing vessels. Commercial fishing is not allowed during closed fishing season, but municipal fisherfolk can continue fishing,)

“Pagdating po sa tulong, institutionalized po ang tutulong-tulong ng ibang mga government agencies. Pati taon-taon naman pong ginagawa itong closed fishing season at may ibinibigay na alternative livelihood sa ating mangingisda,” he added.

(When it comes to assistance, the assistance of different government agencies are institutionalized. We implement the closed fishing season every year and alternative livelihood is also provided to fishermen,)—Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News