Gov’t to impose 4-month commercial fishing ban in Samar Sea

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is bracing for the four-month commercial fishing moratorium in Samar Sea starting April this year.

The first ever commercial fishing ban within the 11 coastal towns along Samar Sea will protect marine species during their spawning period between April to July this year, according to BFAR Regional Juan D. Albaladejo.

“With an average catch of 2.88 metric tons (mt) per square kilometer, the biodiversity of Samar Sea is still good compared to the Visayan Sea and Leyte Gulf. We have to protect the area to reach the three mt to 10 mt harvest per square kilometer,” Albaladejo said.

BFAR and concerned local government units agreed to impose fishing ban from April to July considering that scientific studies point to these months as the spawning period for fish species locally known as "buraw, hasa-hasa, lahing, baga-baga, tambong and agumaa".

“BFAR is ready to implement the closure since the ban is based on scientific studies and supported by 11-member local government units of Samar Sea alliance,” Albaladejo added.

Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, alliance chairman revealed in an earlier interview said that Samar Sea resources have been depleting, which calls for a closed season.

“In the past, Calbayog City ships three to five truckloads of fish to Metro Manila daily, but now the volume is only one truck in a day,” Aquino observed.

During the off season, marginal fishers are still allowed to catch fish in the area for as long as their fishing boat is below the three tons gross tonnage.

“There might be resistance, but we want fishing boat operators and fishermen appreciate the value of marine protection to increase production,” Albaladejo added.

BFAR will introduce seaweed production and shellfish culture as alternative source of income for affected fishermen.

The Samar Sea situated between Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, covers the coastal waters of Almagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Niño, Gandara, Sta. Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Pagsangjan and Zumarraga in Samar province.

According to a 1993 study of Jurgen Saeger, a German fisheries development specialist, the Samar Sea has experienced a significant degradation of marine resources. Before 1981, there were 50 commercial fish species, but within 10 years, it was reduced to only 10 due to overfishing and illegal activities.

The expert found that deforestation of surrounding lands has led to increased silt from denuded mountains that choke coral reefs. Only some 5 percent of reefs are considered to be in a healthy condition.

Another result of the increased silt is red tide bloom, which first occurred in Samar Sea in 1983. Since then, the phenomenon continues to occur in Samar Sea at irregular intervals. (PNA)
JBP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO