ILOILO – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 will close a portion of the Visayan Sea to commercial fishing for three months to allow fish stocks to recover during the spawning season.
“Humalin sa Nov. 15 asta sa Feb. 15 ang aton closed season sa Visayan Sea,” said Director Remia Aparri.
Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3 for this prohibits the catching, selling and marketing of sardines, herring and mackerel species.
In the past, according to Aparri, some fishermen ignored the closed season but now public awareness on the prohibition is much better.
She urged local officials and coastal communities to cooperate with the bureau in conserving and protecting marine species in the country’s largest fishing grounds.
The BFAR-6 chief likewise enjoined commercial fishing vessel operators to comply with the policy and avoid encroaching on the portion where fishing of the pelagic species has been banned.
The areas covered by the closed season include Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and Carles in Northern Iloilo; Roxas City, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, and Panay in Capiz; and Northern Negros covering EB Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Sagay City, Cadiz City, and Escalante City.
According to Aparri, patrol vessels will be deployed to conduct 24/7 seaborne patrol operations.
“We will continue what we have started sa pag-amlig kag pagbantay sang Visayan Sea. Kon puede mabinuligay kita nga mapatuman ang ini nga laye kay ang aton kawsa is for the sustainable management sang fisheries sa Visayan Sea,” Aparri said./PN
