Visayan Sea
The Visayan Sea is located in the central part of the Philippines, bounded by Masbate Island in the northeast, Negros Island in the south and Panay Island in the west. It is considered as one of the most extensive and productive fishing grounds in the country, contributing 13% of the total commercial and 11% of the total municipal fisheries production of the country.
Profile
Located in the center of the Philippines, it covers about 5% of the total area of the Philippine shelf having an area of approximately 10,000 km2. Based on NAMRIA, the cumulative area of the municipal waters within the Visayan Sea is 1,290,590 hectares, considering the 33 municipalities. Additionally, total coastline bounding the Visayan Sea is estimated to be 1,269 km.
Visayan Sea is relatively shallow having a depth of 20-40 meters in the southwest sector and 41-180 meters in northeast. Its bottom topography is relatively level with a gently rolling seabed. Due to its shallow feature, coral reef shoals are able to proliferate on certain areas.
Visayan Sea has been consistently among the Philippines most productive fishing ground (Armada, 1998). It has contributed 20% in the country’s total marine production since the 1980s until early 1990s. Decline has since been apparent and production has been declining contributing only more or less 14% of total in the recent years.
While it is true that the fishing ground is rich in marine life, the steady decline is a testament that it is not inexhaustible. Trawl surveys indicated depletion of the fisheries resource in the Visayan sea. In 1950s biomass estimate of the fishing ground is at 6.03 mt/km2, in 2003 it was largely reduced to 2.58 mt/km2 to only 2.06 mt/km2 in 2007 (Ferrer, 2009) and slightly recovered at 2.56 mt/km2 in 2013 (Mesa, 2014).
A handful of scallops gathered by municipal fishers from the depths of Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo
Closed Season
Starting from November 15 to February 15 the following year, the closed season for sardines (tuloy, tamban, tabagak), herrings (balantiyong), and mackerels (guma-a, bulao, hasa-hasa) is implemented in the Visayan Sea.
Within three months, commercial and municipal fisherfolk are encouraged to take a break in catching, selling, and marketing the mentioned fishes within the established boundaries. This period also coincides with their time to reproduce and for their juveniles grow, allowing the sea to rest and replenish.
This move is an approach ensured by the bureau to protect the major fish commodities of the Visayan Sea. It could mean a lesser income for some fishers, but this effort would be eventually beneficial not only to fisherfolk but also to the masses. It is also an attempt to safeguard the sustainable capture of these fishes as a long-term solution to declining fish stocks.
This closed season was established through Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167 series of 1989 as amended by FAO 167-3 series of 2013. The delineation of the Visayan sea covered by the closed season starts from Danao River in Escalante City to the tip of Sta. Fe, Cebu. It continues to the northernmost tip of Madridejos to Gigantes Island with the lighthouse as the marker. It then connects horizontally to Olotayan Island down to Roxas City. Between Iloilo and Negros Occidental, the boundary starts from Talisay River in Barotac Nuevo to Tomonton Point in EB Magalona and eventually back to Danao River.
The Visayan Sea is a rich fishing ground. Other than sardines, herrings, and mackerels, many other marine life forms thrive here. Likewise, it has been one of the country’s top fishing grounds. Due to its productivity, one may say that it is inexhaustible, but studies have proven that there was a noticeable decline in fish stocks in recent years.
Visayan Sea Management Framework
References:
Armada, N. B. (1998). Assessment and management of small pelagic fisheries in Visayan Sea - Annual Project Report (August 1996 - July 1997). College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo, Philippines: Department of Science and Technology.
Ferrer, A. J. (2009). Evaluation of Fisheries Management Options for the Visayan Sea, Philippines:The Case of Northern Iloilo. Singapore: Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA).
Mesa, S. V. (2014). The Fisheries Resource Status of Visayan Sea. Iloilo City: National Stock Assessment Program - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Field Office 6.