Conservationist lauds ban on commercial fishing

CEBU, Philippines -  The Oceana Philippines has praised the fishing ban currently being implemented by the Bureau of Fishe-ries and Aquatic Resources-7 in the Visayan Sea to allow fish stocks to recover during spawning season.

Lawyer Gloria Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines, said the closure of the Visayan Sea for commercial fishing for sardines, mackerel, and herring starting November 15 until February next year is an important step in ensuring the viability of the fishing industry and the livelihood of fishermen in the municipalities.

“This will go a long way in ensuring that essential food fish for Filipinos remain abundant for present and future generations,” said Ramos.

Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservations. Since 2001, they have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, and other sea creatures.

The ban, however, does not apply to municipal fishers, who can still catch these species for personal consumption and for selling in local wet market, said BFAR director Asis Perez.

The ban covers portions of the Visayan Sea from Danao River at the tip of Escalante north of Bacolod, at the eastern tip of Sta. Fe in Cebu and northern tip of Madridejos in Cebu, to Higantes Island in Carles, Iloilo and Caluya Island in Oriental Mindoro.

According to BFAR, November to February is the peak of the spawning period for sardines, mackerel and herring, which is a timeless season to restore the population of these species.

Sardines and herring are known in the Visayas as Tamban, Malalangsi, and Tuloy while Mackerel is called Tamaro or Anduhaw.  BFAR said that 10 of the country’s 13 fishing grounds are overfished including the Visayan Sea. Fish expert Maria Lourdes Palomares said that the ban would help small fish species to recover.

Palomares said that this ban will go a long was as it will help prevent spawning fish from being taken out of the sea and will help increase the number of small fish and increase the survival rate of adult fish.

She added that aside from enforcement of the ban, information campaigns shall be undertaken to educate fishers on why fish stocks are dwindling and how the closed season is going to help the fishery sector.

The three-month closure of the Visayan Sea will affect commercial boats weighing 3.1 gross tons and up. Violators shall suffer a fine of P6,000 and/or a imprisonment for up to six years.—(FREEMAN)