IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has imposed its annual closed fishing season for sardines and mackerel in key fishing grounds in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Visayan Sea, in a bid to protect fish stocks during their peak spawning period.
From November 15 to February 15, commercial fishing operations using purse seine, ring net, bag net, and scoop net are banned in a vast conservation zone in Zamboanga waters, covering parts of the East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait, and Sibuguey Bay, BFAR said.
The conservation area encompasses 6,481.80 square nautical miles (or 22,260.36 square kilometers) of municipal and national waters, including the western zones of Zamboanga del Norte, waters along the south and east of Zamboanga City, and the southern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay, the agency added.
A similar seasonal ban is in effect across the Visayan Sea, where fishing, selling, and buying sardines, mackerel, and herring are also prohibited until February 15.
BFAR said the seasonal restrictions aim to allow these economically vital fish species to reproduce and replenish their numbers. The Zamboanga Peninsula remains the sardine capital of the Philippines, supplying a significant portion of the country’s canned sardines and related industries.
Ludong fishing ban lifted
The agency also confirmed the lifting of the 45-day closed season for Ludong (Cestraeus sp.), known as the “President’s Fish,” after the ban ended on November 15.
The Ludong conservation period, which ran from October 1 to November 15, covered the Cagayan River and its tributaries. BFAR Region 2 earlier said the seasonal protection is crucial as Ludong numbers continue to decline due to habitat loss, illegal fishing, and destructive human activity.
“The annual closed fishing season… is part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the Ludong population,” BFAR Region 2 said.
Protecting food security
The closed fishing season is part of a long-running fisheries conservation program aimed at ensuring stable fish supply and supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on sardines and mackerel.
BFAR and law enforcement agencies will conduct joint patrols to monitor compliance, while coastal local governments are expected to assist in surveillance and data gathering.
The Philippines enforces closed fishing seasons across several major fishing grounds as part of science-based fishery management measures intended to curb overfishing and strengthen the country’s food security.
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