Following the end of the closed fishing season, the retail price of galunggong or round scad went down by P50 to P60 per kilo in markets in the National Capital Region (NCR).

BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said fish in markets are now cheaper due to the abundant catch of fishers in the country.

“From 50 to P60 in the National Capital Region,” he said when asked how much cheaper galunggong has become.

“The closed fishing season has already ended, that's why we can notice in markets that there are a lot of fish,” he added.

Meanwhile, Briguera said retail prices of fish are expected to rise during the Holy Week as Catholics refrain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent or Holy Week, which prohibits them from eating any form of meat, including cattle, hog, chicken, and other types of meat. As a result, fish is a popular alternative protein source among Filipinos at this time.

But he said that the country has an ample supply of fish during the Holy Week.

“Based on our experience, the increase in prices takes place during the Holy Week, the whole week,” the BFAR spokesperson said.

“This is just temporary, what’s important is that we have a sufficient supply of fish,” he added.

Based on the price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on March 1, local galunggong is retailed for P200 to P320 a kilo in NCR markets.

Imported galunggong, on the other hand, is way cheaper as it is being sold for P180 to P260.

On February 1, galunggong fishing in Northeastern Palawan resumed, officially ending the closed fishing season.

The three-month closed fishing season began on Nov. 1, 2023, the BFAR said.

According to the BFAR, the closed fishing season is being implemented by the government as a conservation measure. Typically, it is enforced during specific periods when marine species, particularly fish, are in their spawning season.

It seeks to protect the reproductive cycle of fish species and ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.