Fishing ban leads to higher tuna supply

MANILA, Philippines – Increased population of small fish species that serve as feed to larger species is increasing tuna supply in key production areas, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

Alcala said more deliveries of frozen tuna for canneries are now being reported in landing centers in General Santos City where there is robust demand.

The fisheries subsector grew by 1.8 percent in the third quarter, contributing 19.78 percent to total agricultural production. The subsector grossed  P57.7 billion, up by 4.18 percent year-on-year.

Production of skipjack tuna, in particular, rose by 15.88 percent year-on-year during the third quarter. Production of yellowfin tuna also rose by 6.67 percent during the period.

Alcala attributed this to increased population of pelagic fish species that attract larger fish like tuna.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has been regularly implementing a seasonal three-month fishing ban in major fishing grounds in the country for five years now.  The move is aimed at protecting the population of sardines, herring, and other small pelagic fish species.

The closed seasons implemented in Visayan Sea, Davao Gulf and Zamboanga Peninsula resulted in increased supply of tamban and galunggong, attracting more tuna fish, their natural predator, to the spawning sites.

The government is currently implementing a three-month closed season for galunggong (roundscad) Northeastern Palawan beginning Nov. 15, to protect the population of the species.

The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council has approved the implementation of the closed season following a thorough study on the migration and spawning habits of the species.

The BFAR would oversee the implementation of the fishing moratorium until Feb. 15, 2016.

During the closed season, small fisherfolk and commercial fishing companies are also prohibited from catching other pelagic fish using ring and bag nets. This is meant to prevent the capture of juvenile fish.

 Besides the closed season, the use of “hulbot-hulbot” (Danish Seine fishing gear), as well as collecting and exporting elvers, sargassum and corals are prohibited.

 Production of other fish species also rose in the third quarter.

 Tilapia production rose by 0.85 percent.  Bigger sizes of tilapia were caught in Lake Lanao and Liguasan Marsh while aquaculture operators were encouraged to produce more fish in pens and cages in Buluan Lake because of higher demand.

 Milkfish production went up by 0.80 percent.  The availability of good quality fingerlings led to increases in area harvested in Davao del Sur.

Favorable weather conditions and lesser seepage of chemicals from nearby palay farms boosted milkfish output from brackish water fishponds in Northern Mindanao.

BFAR distributed more quality fingerlings in Lanao del Norte.  Increased stocking rate for marine cages was reported in Misamis Oriental.

Tiger prawn yield has recovered from the previous year’s slump, increasing by 2.16 percent.

Alcala said this was due to the availability of stocking materials and adequate supply of commercial feeds in Mindoro Oriental.

The expansion of tiger prawn operators in Palawan and lesser mortality rate due to minimal incidence of luminous bacteria in Lanao del Norte also helped, he added.