Philippines: BFAR declares start of 3-month closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayan Sea

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Thursday the start of the closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayan Sea started on Wednesday. In a public briefing, BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit head Nazario Briguera said the season will last for a total of three months or from November 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024. “Ginagawa po natin ito bilang conservation measure para po magkaroon ng pagkakataon 'yung ating fish packs na makapagrepopulate, magkapagspawn,” said Briguera. (We do this as a conservation measure so that the fish packs can have a chance to repopulate, respawn,) In an advisory on its Facebook page, BFAR said the pause in sardines fishing activities cover Zamboanga Peninsula, which includes East Sulu, Basilan Strait, and Sibugay Bay. Catching, selling, and buying of sardines, mackerel, and herring in a portion of Visayan Sea are also prohibited. Briguera said that the period was determined scientifically by observing when ...