The four-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea is not a total ban on fishing activities within the area but only on the three species going through a spawning period.

This was clarified by provincial director-OIC Carlito Delfin of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Negros Occidental in a press statement after questions were raised on the enforcement of Fisheries Administrative Order 167 which prohibits fishing activities from November 15, 2007 to March 15, 2008 within a major part of the Visayan Sea for the protection and conservation of sardines, mackerel and herrings.

Delfin appealed to the fishermen in the province to adhere to the order which is annually imposed since 1989, covering the fishing grounds in Negros Occidental, Iloilo , Capiz and Cebu .

FAO 167's guidelines is based on a scientific research and study conducted decades ago that established the "pregnant season" of sardines, mackerels and herrings known locally as “lupoy,” “silinyasi,” “linatsay” or “manansi.”

Violators will face a fine of five hundred P500 to P5,000 or imprisonment from six months to four years, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the Court.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas-Negros had earlier scored the BFAR 6 action, calling it dictatorial and a curtailment of the rights of fisherfolk.

The group said the fishing ban was imposed without any consultation or notice to the marginal fisherfolk. *NLG

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