THE annual fishing ban or closed fishing season for pelagic (open-sea) marine life in Northern Palawan starts Nov. 1, 2024 till Jan. 31, 2025, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) announced on Thursday.
In a statement, the BFAR said the use of net types such as purse seine, ring and bag to catch round scad or galunggong within the conservation area northeast of Palawan is strictly prohibited within the three-month period.
“The closed fishing season for galunggong has continually yielded positive results based on scientific data,” said the BFAR, which has been imposing the ban for the past nine years. Studies made in collaboration with the National Stock Assessment Program of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute showed it has been effective in sustaining the reproduction of pelagic fishes.
The ban has been cited for the increase in the catch of mature galunggong from 58 percent in 2015 to 85 percent in 2023. The BFAR said this means more of the species are reaching reproductive age, as well as an increase in average length from 16.7 centimeters (cm) in 2015 to 18.9 cm in 2023.
“These results exhibit improved fish growth, species resilience and sustainable population, attributed to the effective implementation of the closed fishing season,” the agency said.
The BFAR explained 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 grow and mature, thereby promoting regeneration, sustainability and long-term availability of these valuable fish stocks.”
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed higher yields in production have also been observed. Galunggong production in Palawan has increased from 7,507 metric tons (MT) in 2016 to 8,146.84 MT in 2022. During the year, round scad ranked second in Palawan by volume, indicating its economic importance to the region.
“This improved fisheries productivity reflects the substantial impact of conservation efforts, such as the closed fishing season, on this critical resource,” the BFAR said.
The government, through the DA-BFAR and other partner agencies, remains committed to continuous monitoring and assessment of the conservation measure, which not only promotes a healthier galunggong population but also upholds national food security and sustainable livelihoods of thousands of fisherfolk, the BFAR statement concluded.
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