Closed season in gulf welcomed

By Cheneen R. Capon
Businessman Domingo O. Ang lauded the annual three-month closed season implemented in Davao Gulf, saying it will help in reviving the tuna industry in the region.
‘’Before the Japanese war, the region was known for its vibrant tuna industry,’’ Ang, who owns the popular Maria Tuna restaurant in Davao City, told Edge Davao.
Overfishing of small pelagic fishes, however, caused a decrease in the tuna’s food, which in turn caused a decrease in the tuna catch.
Ang said the closed season is ‘’a good conservation mechanism’’ in reviving the lost tuna industry of Davao Region because it will increase the number of sardines, which is tuna’s food.
‘’Davao Gulf is part of the migratory path of tuna. These tuna will get back here if there is food,’’ Ong said.
He said it is time to have human intervention to bring back the tuna here.
Ang said he supports the three-month closed season implemented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11 during spawning season which happen from June to August.
‘’If you will really take care of the fish, it will really produce millions of offspring,’’ he said.
BFAR 11 started to implement the closed season in last year’s spawning season with the aim of increasing the reproduction rate of small pelagic fishes.
Commercial fishing vessels and the use of bag nets and ring nets was prohibited during the season.
A BFAR 11 research study conducted after the closed season showed that there were tuna larvae found in the gulf.
‘’This is good news for fishermen in the region because there’s a bigger opportunity in the tuna industry because of it high price in the global market like Japan’’ Ang said.
Ong said a 30-kilogram premium class tuna can sell for as high as P30,000 in an auction in Japan, compared with a kilo of small fish which may range from P80 to P100.
‘’Fishermen will have a chance to earn more in tuna,’’ he said.
Ong said the revival of the tuna industry here will also benefit the tourism sector.
‘’People will come here not just for the Philippine Eagle but also for tuna,’’ he said.
The BFAR 11 will also implement the closed season this year.