PAGADIAN CITY: For the
fourth successive year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ordered
a 90-day fishing ban on sardines and herring off the coastal waters of
Zamboanga peninsula, a new report gathered by The Philippine Preview said.
BFAR Director Asis
Perez said the said ban is contained in Administrative Circular No. 255 as the
closed season will be implemented strictly off the coastal waters of East Sulu
Sea, Basilan Strait, and Sibuguey Bay.
These waters, added
BFAR, cover approximately 22,260 square kilometers and are the habitat of small
pelagic fish species.
The fishing ban will include
the western municipal and national waters of Zambo Norte, as well as the waters
bordering south and eastern Zamboanga and southern portion of Zambo Sibugay,
BFAR said.
This will begin on Dec.
1, 2014 and will end March 1, 2015 —the time when spawning of major species of
sardines and herring begins, which includes the tunsoy, tamban and tulis.
The three consecutive year
seasonal fishing ban was supposed to end in 2013 but BFAR extended its discharge
with the recommendation of the sardine canning industry in Zamboanga Peninsula.
BFAR said that the absolute
implementation of the ban will also help them conduct more research on the fishes
in the area and review together it with the National Fisheries Research and
Development Institute.
The results would then determine
the best management strategy that would ensure the sustainability and conservation
of sardines and herring, it added.
The waters mentioned account
for the presence of 85 percent of all sardine products in the country, with 11
canneries operating in Zamboanga City alone.
Perez said hopes strong
cooperation will be given by the fishing sector.