DAVAO City – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 11 raised concerns on the decreasing fish catch in the Davao Gulf.
The decline in the number of catch was seen even BFAR’s implementation of the annual closed season for pelagic fishes for five years now.
BFAR Region 11 director Fatma Idris said the decreasing fish catch has already been noted since 2015.
Based on the stock assessment, Idris said Davao Gulf used to produce 3,522 metric tons, which went down 4 percent in 2015 and has since continued to decline.
El Niño is being blamed for the decline. The extreme heat condition affects hito (catfish) growers and fingerling hatcheries in the Davao region due to the drop of water levels.
Idris said the closed season for pelagic fishes at Davao Gulf is just one strategy that BFAR is implementing to address the problem.
The closed season, which gives pelagic fishes the opportunity to spawn and multiply, is set from June 1 until Aug. 31.
It is in accordance with the Joint Administrative Order No. 02 of the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The order prohibits the catching of pelagic fishes in Davao Gulf. Fishermen or fishing companies are also not be allowed to catch pelagic fishes using ringnet and bagnet.
The ban applies to small-scale and large-scale commercial fishing with vessels from 3.1 gross tons (GT) to more than 150 GT.
Last year, BFAR targeted 65,597 metric tons of fish production higher than the 43,657 metric tons in the third quarter in 2016.
To achieve targets, Idris said the government has been assisting fisherfolk through its program of giving fiberglass fishing boats.
BFAR gives 100 boats per coastal town, targeting about 4,000 beneficiaries.
Idris said 3,000 units of fiberglass boats will be distributed to coastal towns in Davao region. BFAR is also providing fishermen with hook and line gears. (With a report from PNA/PN)
