ILOILO – If between November this year to Feb. 15, 2020 sardines, herrings and mackerels continue to be sold in public markets most especially in northern Iloilo, it means local fishermen are violating the three-month fishing ban at the Visayan Sea.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared a “closed season” for fishing in the Visayan Sea from Nov. 15, 2019 to Feb. 15 next year to allow sardines, herrings and mackerels to repopulate.
To ensure that the fishing ban is followed in his northern town, Carles mayor Siegfredo Betita is employing a new strategy – deploying personnel to check if fish vendors are selling sardines, herrings and mackerels at the municipal public market.
“During the previous closed season for fishing, these three fish species were still being sold in the market,” said Betita.
Carles, which faces the Visayan Sea, has rich fishing grounds.
Betita saw the deployment of inspectors in the market and in small barangay markets as a solution to the problem.
Betita sought the cooperation of barangay councils last week in the enforcement of the BFAR-ordered ban.
The closed season at the Visayan Sea covers an area drawn through certain points and coastlines. These coastlines include from the mouth of the Danao River on the northeastern tip of Bantayan Island to Madridejos (Cebu) through the lighthouse on Gigantes Island (Iloilo), to Olotayan Island and Culasi Point (Capiz); eastward along the northern coast of Capiz to Bulacaue Point in Carles (Iloilo); southward along the eastern coast of Iloilo to the mouth of Talisay River; westward across the Guimaras Strait to Tomonton Point in Negros Occidental; eastward along the northern coast of Negros Island and back to the mouth of Danao River in Escalante, Negros Occidental.
Under Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3 imposing the fishing ban, violators will be fined (P6,000) and imprisoned for six years. Their catch would also be confiscated.
The BFAR order also prohibits the sale of the following for three months:
* goldstripe sardines (locally called tamban / tabagak)
* Bali sardines (tamban / tamban-tuloy)
* rainbow sardine (tamban / balantiyong)
* short-bodied mackerel (hasa-hasa / guma-a)
* Indian mackerel (bulaw / buraw / alumahan)/PN
