ENVIRONMENT protection group Oceana Philippines is urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to implement a temporary ban on fishing for tawilis in Taal Lake after the species was classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“The Protected Area Management Board of Taal Volcano Protected Landscape has already endorsed seasonal closure of tawilis to give it time to reproduce. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) proposed a three-month fishing ban on tawilis since 2013. The DENR and BFAR must join forces to curb the major threats to the survival of tawilis and to ensure that there is sustainable management of this species,” Gloria E. Ramos, Vice-President of Oceana Philippines, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Tawilis (Sarinella tawilis) is a freshwater sardine considered a regional delicacy.
Ms. Ramos said that while closed seasons will help the fish populations regenerate, other measures should also be implemented to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery, including tight controls on fish pens, regular monitoring of water quality, and keeping out invasive species.
“Demand for tawilis has driven the fish to near extinction and this must be carefully studied by both scientists and resource economists,” Ms. Ramos said.
“There’s an urgent need to implement a science-based sardine management framework that will address issues of overfishing, regulating the catch of juveniles, and regeneration. The continuous encroachment of commercial fishers in municipal waters must also be addressed,” Ms. Ramos added.
According to the Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (PANGISDA- Pilipinas), commercial fishing operations should be regulated to address the overfishing of tawilis.
“The ban must focus on the commercial fishing sector. Their boats are large and their gear is very efficient, so they catch the majority of the stocks. At the same time, municipal fishers are also displaced, and left with less catch,” PANGISDA Chairperson Pablo R. Rosales said in a statement. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
