BFAR imposes 3-month sardine fishing ban in Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines - A three-month fishing ban on sardines will be imposed in the Zamboanga peninsula starting Dec. 1, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Thursday.

BFAR issued Administrative Circular 255 ordering a closed season on sardines in the waters of East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay.

The ban covers 22,260 square kilometers of municipal and national waters of Zamboanga del Norte as well as waters bordering south and eastern Zamboanga City and the southern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The conservation measure would be implemented during the natural spawning season for various species of sardines as well as herring.

These species include fimbriated sardines (tunsoy), Indian sardines (tamban) and round herring (tulis).

It would be the fourth year that the BFAR would implement a closed season on sardines in the area. The conservation measure has been strongly supported by the fishing sector, particularly by sardine canneries.

Perez said a technical working group was created to conduct research and peer review of the implementation of the closed season.