ILOILO CITY – The annual three-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea, one of the country’s richest fishing grounds, is underway.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) officially launched the closed fishing season under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3 from Nov. 15, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025 in Estancia town, Iloilo province.
POLICE were tapped to implement a three-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea until Feb. 15, 2025. (BFAR Region 6)
“The closed season is not enough. We have to provide a very good environment for these species by protecting the critical habitats,” said BFAR-6 Regional Director Remia Aparri.
Aparri said that the ban will enable herring, mackerel, sardines, short-bodied mackerel, Goldstripe sardine, Indian mackerel, Fimbriated sardine, and rainbow sardine to repopulate.
The move will also address overfishing in the Visayan Sea that gives livelihood to around 100,000 fishermen.
Areas covered are Gigantes Island in Iloilo province; Olotayan Island to Culasi Point in Capiz province; northeastern tip of Bantayan Island in Cebu province; westward of Guimaras Strait, and northern coast of Negros Island.
The BFAR has tapped the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to enforce the ban.
The BFAR urged local government units (LGUs) to help enforce the ban through their sea patrol groups.
Also present during the launching were BFAR Regional Directors Ariel U. Pioquinto and Mario N. Ruinata of Bicol and Central Visayas regions.