The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region XI officially announces the commencement of this year’s three-month Davao Gulf Closed Fishing Season, aimed at conserving small pelagic fishes and ensuring their replenishment, recovery, and reproduction.
The fishing ban will be enforced from June 1 to August 31, in accordance with the Department of Agriculture–Department of the Interior and Local Government (DA-DILG) Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 02, Series of 2014, “𝘌𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘰 𝘎𝘶𝘭𝘧” and Section 100 “𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯” of Republic Act (RA) No. 10654 “𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘋𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭, 𝘜𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘜𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨”, which amends RA 8550, also known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
The Davao Gulf, spanning from Cape of San Agustin, Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental to Talagotong Point, Don Marcelino in Davao Occidental, serves as a critical spawning ground for various small pelagic species. The peak spawning period, occurring from June to August, affects key fish species such as Big-Eyed Scad (Matambaka/Matangbaka), Mackerel (Karabalyas/Alumahan), and Round Scad (Galunggong).
During the closed season, the use of bag nets (Basnig or Tapay-tapay) and ring nets (Kubkuban or Likom) regardless of tonnage and/or modified fishing gears with similar fishing operations is strictly prohibited. However, registered municipal fisherfolk using registered municipal fishing gears such as hook and line, gillnet, fish pots and other permitted gears are allowed to fish. Violations of this regulation will result in severe penalties, including fines ranging from ₱20,000 to ₱500,000, imprisonment, confiscation of catch and fishing equipment, and revocation of fishing licenses, as stated in Section 100 of RA 10654.
BFAR XI remains steadfast in its mission to protect Davao Gulf’s marine ecosystem, ensuring its long-term sustainability for future generations.
To help enforce regulations and combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) in the Davao Region, individuals can report incidents to BFAR XI – Enforcement and Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Operation Center (ERMCSOC) through:
Hotline: 0956-485-1310 (Smart)
Email: fmred.region11@bfar.da.gov.ph | ermcsoc.bfarxi@gmail.com
Landline: 082 225-3152