Fish supply in Davao stable despite yearly fishing ban in Davao Gulf

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Davao Region (Bfar-Davao) said there should still be enough fish production despite the yearly ban on fishing small pelagic fishes in Davao Gulf from June to August.

“Most probably sa isda sa dagat maapektohan ta but it should be absorbed sa aquaculture nato (We might be affected regarding the number of fishes sourced from the sea by that ban, but the fish production will be backed by our aquaculture),” Raul Millena, BfarDavao regional director said in an interview.

The yearly ban was firstly implemented back in 2014, when fishing gears such as bagnets, fishnets, and other similar fine mesh nets will be disallowed for three months, from June to August in every year.

“Selective gear lang ang pwede managat, most probably ma-apektohan gyud ta, kay menos man ang kuha (Only selective fishing gear is allowed, and this will most likely have an impact on us since we will have fewer catches),” Millena said.

Millena said the current hatcheries and several maricultures can back up the fish production of Davao Region from its 14 hatcheries and around 3,000 fish cages.

Millena also said Davao Region only imports 1.5 to 2 percent of its total production.

The restriction is implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao under Joint Administrative Order ( JAO) No. 02 “Establishing a Closed Season for the Conservation of Small Pelagic Fishes in Davao Gulf.”

“Ang purpose man pod gud ana is para sa mga small pelagic fishes, kay kana na period June to August mao na’y panahon na nagapanaghan sila base sa atong study so we give them ample time na magbuntis, manganak (The purpose of that is for the small pelagic fishes because based on our study, the period from June to August is when they are in their spawning season. We give them ample time to breed and give birth),” Millena said.

“So far sa natural fishes nato, abunda pa man ta (For our natural fishes in the sea, we have enough),” Millena added. /