The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has initiated a three-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea starting November 15, 2024. This closure, aimed at conserving marine life, will last until February 15, 2025. During this period, fishing for species such as sardines, mackerels, and herrings is strictly prohibited to allow these fish to spawn and replenish their populations.
Richie Deloso, an information assistant at BFAR 7 in Central Visayas, emphasized the importance of public cooperation in adhering to the ban. He highlighted that the temporary sacrifice of not fishing for three months would benefit future generations by ensuring sustainable fish stocks. Deloso stressed that overfishing now could lead to resource depletion, adversely affecting future fishing yields.
The ban specifically targets species known locally as ‘tuloy,’ ‘tamban,’ ‘hilos-hilos,’ and ‘anduhaw’ or ‘hasa-hasa.’ Violators of this seasonal closure face legal consequences under Republic Act 8550, the Fisheries Code of 1998. The enforcement of the ban began with patrol vessels monitoring the Visayan Sea to ensure compliance and protect the marine ecosystem.