By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), as of last week, declared a three-month closure for fishing sardines and mackerel in the Visayan Sea. The policy will remain in effect until February 15, 2020.
Mandated by Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3, the closed fishing season is an annual measure by BFAR to allow the spawning of sardines, herring, and mackerel.
During the three months, it is prohibited to catch, kill, sell, or possess sexually-mature sardines, herring, and mackerel, along with their larvae. Possession young varieties, known locally as lupoy, silinyasi, linatsay, or manansi, is also not allowed.
The Visayan Sea borders local points such as the lighthouse on Gigantes Island, a part of Carles, Iloilo; Culasi Point in Capiz; the northern coast of Capiz to Bulacaue Point in Carles, Iloilo; the eastern coast of Iloilo to the mouth of Talisay River; the Guimaras Strait to Tomonton Point in Negros Occidental; the northern coast of Negros; and the mouth of the Danao River in Escalante City./DGB, WDJ