Davao Gulf Declares Closed Fishing Season for Fish Recovery

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Davao Region (Bfar-Davao) has officially declared a closed fishing season in the Davao Gulf from June 1 to August 31, 2025.

Elaine Vera M. Belvis, chief of Bfar-Davao’s Fisheries Management, Regulatory and Enforcement Division, said the closed season has been implemented annually since 2014. The ban prohibits the use of bag nets (basnig or tapay-tapay) and ring nets (kubkuban or likom), regardless of tonnage, as well as similar fishing methods.

However, registered municipal fisherfolk are still allowed to use specific gears such as hooks and lines, gillnets, and fish pots.

“Based sa atoang National Stock Assessment program naa tay data na collect from them so far ang trend sa catch gikan sa municipal up to commercial every after the establishment of our closed season is increasing (Based on data from our National Stock Assessment Program, the trend in catch volume—from municipal to commercial—has consistently increased after each closed season),” she said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, on Monday morning, June 2, 2025, at SM City Davao. 

The seasonal fishing ban aims to allow small pelagic fish species, including Mackerel Scad (Galunggong), Bigeye Scad (Matangbaka), and Shortbodied Mackerel (Karabalyas), to recover and reproduce during their peak spawning season.

The regulation is in line with the DA-DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2024, and Section 100 of Republic Act No. 10654 (amending the Philippine Fisheries Code), which mandates closed seasons for fish conservation.

Since 2015, Bfar’s Regional Adjudication Committee has recorded 13 violations of the closed season, resulting in total fines of over ₱1 million. Belvis noted that they typically record one or two apprehensions per season. Violators may face administrative cases, fines between ₱20,000 and ₱500,000, imprisonment, confiscation of catch and equipment, and even revocation of fishing licenses.

Bfar is working with several enforcement partners, including municipal task forces, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard, to patrol key coastal areas such as IGACOS (Davao del Norte), Banaybanay, Lupon, San Isidro, and Governor Generoso (Davao Oriental), and Don Marcelino (Davao Occidental).

To support affected fisherfolk, Bfar has coordinated with various agencies to assist. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute food packs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide livestock, and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has allocated 200 slots under the TUPAD program. Local government units have also launched their support programs for coastal communities.

The Davao Gulf, which stretches from Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental to Talagoyong Point in Davao Occidental, is a critical spawning ground for small pelagic fish, particularly during the June-to-August period. RGP