The three-month closed-fishing season for round scad or galunggong in North Eastern Palawan will start on Nov. 1, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced on Thursday.
In a statement, the BFAR said the closed fishing season would roll until January 31, 2025.
“The use of purse seine, ring net, and bagnet in catching galunggong within the conservation area northeast of Palawan shall be strictly prohibited,” it said.
The closed fishing season is a science-based conservation measure to protect target fish species during their peak spawning period.
This allows mature fish to freely reproduce, while juveniles to grow and mature, thereby promoting regeneration, sustainability, and long-term availability of these valuable fish stocks.
“Most significant observations are the increase in the percentage of mature galunggong catch from 58 percent in 2015 to 85 percent in 2023, which signifies that more of the species are reaching reproductive age,” the BFAR said, citing positive data from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI)’s National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP).
Already in its 9th year of implementation, the closed fishing season for galunggong has continually yielded positive results based on scientific data gathered in collaboration with the National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI).
It also reported a better catch quality, with an increased average of round scad’s length to 18.9 centimeters in 2023, from 16.7 cm in 2015.
“These results exhibit improved fish growth, species resilience, and sustainable population, attributed to the effective implementation of the closed fishing season,” the BFAR said.
Besides the increased maturity and improved quality, it also boosted the overall galunggong production in Palawan, with around 8,146.84 metric tons (MT) in 2022, higher than 7,507 MT in 2016.
Following the closed fishing season in the country’s major source of galunggong, closed fishing will also be imposed in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula from Nov. 15, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025, for small pelagic fish, including sardines.
The BFAR, meanwhile, assured a stable supply of fish in local markets with the arrival, by batches, of 30,000 MT of imported fish from Vietnam and China. (PNA)
