Manila Times (Archive) - Following the successful implementation of closed season on sardines, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday said it now is studying the implementation of fishing ban for round scad, or commonly known as galunggong.
In a statement, BFAR Director Asis Perez said they are inspired to extend the fishing closed season for galunggong because of success of the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga sardines closed season, which were both implemented last year and was lifted March this year.
“We are inspired by what happened in the sardine closure. We are happy with the results because we now have more fish catch,†BFAR Director Asis Perez said.
Perez said the agency sees possible fishing closed season as a positive way to address the depleting supply of galunggong and to lower down prices in the market.
At present, prices of round scud range from P60 to P120, depending on size.
“Why do we have to have to implement a closed season? Because galunggong, as we know, is the poor man’s fish. We want to bring down prices so that, consistently, we have galunggong on our table at a very, very affordable cost,†Perez said.
As a result of the closed season in Visayan Sea and Zamboanga, the BFAR chief noted there is also an increase in the catch of galunggong in those areas.
“And that is our inspiration that’s why we want to look at some areas particularly areas where galunggong can be found massive,†adds Perez.
To do this, the Capture Fisheries Technology Division (CFTD) of BFAR has already been given the directive to study where the best spot for managing galunggong can be found.
Among the important things to research on are the exact peak of spawning period of round scud, where fish aggregation with that spawning period happens, how long it takes for the species to spawn and how many eggs on the average each fish lays.
Initially, the government is looking at the Northern PalaÂwan as the area of study where closed season for galungÂgong will be implemented either in the last quarter of this year or first quarter of 2014.
Currently, CFTD is doing a survey on the size of galunggong sold in the wet market as an initial study on the very nature of the said fish species.
“From there, further studies will be conducted to help gather useful information that will serve as scientific basis for the possible seasonal closure for galunggong,†Perez said.
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Topic: Fishing ban for round scad, or commonly known as galunggong (Read 806 times)