Visayan sea: Off limits to commercial fishing
CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 is again closing a portion of the Visayan Sea to commercial fishing for three months starting on Sunday, November 15, 2020.
BFAR-7 regional director Allan Poquita said that commercial fishermen are prohibited from catching and selling herrings, mackerels and sardines during the breeding season.
“Absolute gyud ang prohibition sa mga commercial fishing boats anha sa Visayan seas but ang municipal fisherfolks wala kaayo gibawal but they are being encourage nga dili sa kuhaon ang maong klase sa mga isda,” said Poquita.
Sardines and herrings are known in the Visayas as Tamban or Malalangsi and Tuloy, respectively, while Mackerel is called Tamaro or Anduhaw. Poquita said the Visayan Sea is closed for three months every year for spawning.
“Kani nga period mao ni ang time nga buntis ni sila. Mao nga bawal gyud kuhaon para to give them time nga modaghan sila,” Poquita said.
“Daku kaayo ang Visayan Sea, only a portion ang sirad-an but majority naa gyud sa Central Visayas,” Poquita explained.
According to BFAR-7, the Visayan Sea is one of the largest fishing grounds in the country that is rich in marine resources but is facing several threats due to destructive human activities like dynamite fishing.
The Visayan Sea is also surrounded by the Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas regions; bounded by the islands of Masbate to the north, Cebu and Negros to the south, Panay to the west, and Leyte to the east. — FPL (FREEMAN)
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