Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifts fishing ban in Zamboanga peninsula

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifted yesterday the three-month fishing ban on sardines in the coastal waters in the Zamboanga peninsula.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said commercial fishing could resume in the East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the ban affirmed the importance of fishing closures to the sardine population in the region.

“Since 2015, there has been an increase in the catch of Sardinella lemuru (tamban). The catch was at 137,142.55 metric tons  increased to 143, 060 MT in 2016 and further rose to 152, 283 MT last year,” Piñol said.

He also cited the improvement in the sightings of big and high-value fish species that feed on small fishes like sardines.

The fishing ban is being implemented since 2011 under a joint order of the DA and the Department of the Interior and Local Government as part of the conservation effort and to allow the spawning season of sardines.

Closed fishing seasons are also observed in other parts of the country, such as the Visayan Sea, northeastern Palawan, and Davao Gulf. – Roel Pareño