BFAR may declare close-season fishing in Davao gulf soon

AFTER noting a decline in the volume of fish-catch in the Davao gulf, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao Region is mulling a close-season for fishing in the gulf to allow the volume of mature fish to be replenished.

Jose Villanueva, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Division chief of BFAR-Davao, said in Friday's Kapihan sa PIA that the closing of a fishing season would usually last for three months, allowing juvenile species of fish to mature to a marketable age.

Villanueva said the proposed close season will only cover specific types of fish, including galunggong and common tuna-like specifies.

Villanueva said the proposed measure has to be approved by the Davao Gulf Management Council (DGMC) that is composed of all the local government units (LGUs) surrounding the gulf, including Davao City.

Based on a study conducted by Villanueva in the Davao Gulf titled "Assessment of the pelagic fisheries in Davao Gulf," it showed that 45-50 percent of the total fish caught by majority of the fisherfolk in the Davao gulf on a daily basis are juvenile.

This would mean that almost half of the fish being caught by fisherfolk are not on the right age and these are not marketable that usually got wasted.

"Kung magpadaon ang ing-ani, dili na ta matingala na basig mo abot ang panahon na wala na tay makuha sa dagat (If this will continue, there will come a time that we can no longer catch fish here)," Villanueva said.

In Mindanao, a close-season for fishing is being implemented on specific species of fish in Zamboanga to give time for those species to grow into a marketable age.

The proposed close-season for fishing here has to pass the DGMC along with a common Fisheries and Aquatic Management Plan covering the entire gulf. (JOP)