News Details

BFAR Ilocos caravan pushes sustainable galunggong fishing practices

NPO

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August 26, 2025

LAOAG CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has called on coastal communities in the Ilocos Region to practice responsible fishing of galunggong (mackerel scad) by complying with legal gear regulations and observing fishing holidays to protect marine resources.

The advocacy was highlighted during the “Rolling for Sustainability” information caravan, which gathered commercial fishing vessel (CFV) operators, owners of drive-in nets, and municipal fisherfolk engaged in catching, trading, and processing galunggong. Participants committed to adopt strategies and control measures to sustain production while preventing overfishing.

Under the fisheries management plan, a 45-percent catch reduction has been proposed to keep fish stocks stable. The plan also recommends stricter enforcement, especially during the peak fishing season from May to July, to ensure compliance with rules.

Reginald Laxum Atabay, chief of BFAR Region 1’s Fisheries Resources Management Division, stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to make the fisheries plan effective at the local level.

“Our fisheries management plan has already been approved by the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 6 management board. Hopefully, this will be implemented and incorporated in local ordinances and through the formulation of a Fisheries Administrative Order,” Atabay said in an interview Tuesday.

Galunggong, a staple source of affordable animal protein for Filipino households, also plays a vital ecological role as prey for larger fish and marine mammals such as tuna.

— NPO News Team | PNA-PR