Closed fishing season for galunggong in Palawan starts

- Advertisement -

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced the annual closed fishing season in northern Palawan started last Monday, November 1.

Lasting until January 31 next year, the closed fishing season will prohibit the use of purse seine, ring net and bag net in catching galunggong within the conservation area of northeast of Palawan, a major source of the fish.

BFAR said imposing closed fishing helps grow the population of galunggong in the waters of the area while addressing overfishing and climate change, among other concerns.

- Advertisement -

BFAR said this is the seventh year of the implementation of closed fishing which has continually yielded significant positive results in the increased catch of galunggong in the area.

Based on the National Stock Assessment Program of BFAR and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, catch estimates of the species caught by purse seine has increased from 233.07 metric tons (MT) in 2015 to 434.98 MT in 2020, while those caught by ring net bumped up from 187.02 MT to 206.30 MT in the same period.

Ninety five percent of galunggong catch that land at the Navotas Fish Port comes from Palawan.

“We strongly urge our fisheries stakeholders to be one with the government in the implementation of the closed fishing season in Palawan. This measure will help protect the commercially-important galunggong species, ensuring its availability as part of our efforts to achieve food security and fostering sustainable growth in the galunggong industry,” said Eduardo Gongona, BFAR national director, in a statement.

While the closed fishing season is in effect, Gongona said BFAR will give emphasis to aquaculture products as an alternative paired with the expected entry of 60,000 MT of imported galunggong to the country until March 2021.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: