MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of round scad or galunggong, once considered a “poor man’s fish,” was up by P40 per kilo based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Metro Manila markets.
Local round scad was sold as high as P320 per kilo compared to its prevailing price on Nov. 13 at P280. Imported round scad is sold as high as P240 per kilo and Indian mackerel at P340 per kilo.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has announced the start of the closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga peninsula from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 from the original schedule of Dec. 1 to March 1.
“Catching, selling and buying sardines, mackerel and herring in a portion of the marine biodiversity-rich Visayan Sea is prohibited. This is to conserve and protect the economically important species in the said fishing ground during their spawning period,” BFAR said in an advisory.
BFAR added that the government will also enforce a three-month pause in sardine fishing activities in Zamboanga Peninsula with the implementation of Bureau Administrative Circular No. 255.
“This initiative covers one of the country’s largest sardines fishing grounds, the rich and bountiful waters of the Zamboanga Peninsula, which includes East Sulu, Basilan Strait, and Sibugay Bay,” it added.