BFAR mulls galunggong fishing ban

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is considering the implementation of a fishing ban on galunggong (round scad) in Northern Palawan in either the last quarter of the year or the first quarter of 2014 to increase the stock and bring down prices. "Galunggong is food for the masses and so we want to drive down prices to make this affordable," said BFAR Director Asis Perez. Prices of the “poor man's fish” recently went up to as much as P60 to P120 per kilo depending on the size. The BFAR earlier said that it would discuss with stakeholders, including local government units, the impact a galunggong fishing ban would have on fishermen, vendors and consumers. Asis also said that the bureau's Capture Fisheries Technology Division (CFTD) is in the process of identifying the best spot for managing the galunggong population. He added that the recent fishing ban in the Visayan Sea resulted in an increase in the catch of galunggong in the area. “And that is our inspiration, that’s why we want to look at some areas particularly areas where galunggong population is large,” said Perez. The BFAR ended the four-month fishing ban on sardine, herring, and mackerel in the Visayan Sea and its surrounding waters on March 15. On February 28, it lifted a three-month sardine fishing ban in the East Sulu Sea, the Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay. — BM, GMA News