LUDONG
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources announced Friday, Nov. 14, that it will officially lift the 45-day Ludong (President’s Fish) fishing ban on Nov. 15 in Cagayan province.
The move follows the conclusion of the closed fishing season established under BFAR Administrative Circular No. 247, Series of 2013, which aims to protect the seasonal and high-value species during its spawning period.
Department of Agriculture-BFAR Region 2 Director Angel B. Encarnacion has encouraged fisherfolk and local communities to continue practicing responsible fishing even after the ban’s lifting to prevent overfishing.
Encarnacion said this will also ensure the conservation of the species.
Ludong, an endemic lobed-river mullet found in the Cagayan River and its tributaries, is considered one of the country’s most expensive fish due to its unique taste and seasonal availability. Price per kilo ranges from P5,000 to P7,000.
The annual closed fishing season that typically runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 is part of efforts to rehabilitate the Ludong population.
Their numbers have been declining because of habitat degradation, illegal fishing practices, and other detrimental human activities.
Encarnacion added that this science-based measure not only promotes ecological balance in the freshwater ecosystem where Ludong thrives but will also secure the livelihood of fishing communities on the Cagayan River system.