• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The three-month ban on catching, selling and buying of sardine, mackerel and herring in the Visayan Sea, including territorial waters of Negros Occidental, has officially been lifted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, on February 15.
The annual three-month closed fishing started November 15 until Feb. 15.
In a statement, the BFAR said no closed fishing season violators were reported.
“No violation was committed against the three-month ban on catching, selling, and buying of sardine, herring, and mackerel species in the Visayan Sea,” it said.
With the strong cooperation of stakeholders, the policy towards ensuring the protection and conservation of such species in the Visayan Sea, was effectively enforced, BFAR added.
“This shows that municipal fishers, commercial fishers, traders, and market vendors are compliant with the law and respect the ‘Pahuway sang Baybay’ (a break for the sea), despite the pandemic that challenged them and their means of livelihood,” it added.
The BFAR has deployed its 13 floating assets, including the BRP Enrique Jurado, 12 patrol craft with 38 personnel to enforce the three-month period of banning fishing within the conservation area.*
