Closed fishing seasons in Visayan Sea, Zambo Peninsula have ended — BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has announced that the closed fishing seasons in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula have ended.

In separate advisories, the BFAR said the fishing bans ceased on Feb. 16, Friday.

Commercial fishers may resume operations within the Visayan Sea conservation area following the three-month ban on the catching of sardines, herring, and mackerel.

Meanwhile in the Zamboanga Peninsula, small-scale fisherfolk and commercial fishers were allowed to cast their fishing nets anew now that a similar ban on the catching of sardines has ended.

In August 2023, the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council approved the adjusted implementation of the closed fishing season for sardines in the East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait, and Sibuguey Bay at Zamboanga Peninsula.

The period was moved to Nov. 15 to Feb. 15, from the originally scheduled Dec. 1 to March 1.

"The adjustment of the implementation of the previous duration of the closed-fishing season stems from research conducted under the National Stock Assessment Program of the BFAR and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) in Region 9, which shows that the spawning period of mature sardines peaks during October until January," the BFAR said in a Facebook post.

Earlier this month, the BFAR said the price of galunggong was expected to decrease after the three-month closed fishing season in Palawan was lifted on Feb. 1. — VDV, GMA Integrated News