ILOILO City – The closed season in the Visayan Sea for sardines, herrings and mackerels that started on Nov. 15, 2018 would end next month.
“Prohibiting fishers from catching them will increase the population of these species. It is really for fishers so they can have increased catch and increased income,” said Regional Director Remia Aparri of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The closed season will run until Feb. 15, stated BFAR’s Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3.
Aparri said the season’s kickoff last week was held at Culasi Port in Roxas City, Capiz.
“Fish species caught within the Visayan Sea coming from Masbate, Negros and Iloilo land in Capiz,” Aparri explained the choice of venue.
The three-month period is the peak of the spawning season of sardines, herrings and mackerels.
In Western Visayas, the particular portion of the Visayan Sea closed starts from the waters of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo to Manapla and Escalante in Negros Occidental and back to Gigantes Island in Carles, Iloilo and towards Roxas City.
Aparri said those caught fishing for these species in the Visayan Sea will face a penalty of P6,000 for every violation, imprisonment of six months to six years, confiscation of nets and cancellation of their permits.
The Visayan Sea covers five provinces and 33 coastal towns from Regions 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), and 7 (Central Visayas).
Around 20 percent of the total production of these fish species came from Western Visayas. (PNA)
