The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has reported a notable increase in galunggong (round scad) stocks following the implementation of the annual closed fishing season in Palawan waters.
According to BFAR, galunggong production reached 3,363.75 metric tons in the third quarter of 2024, marking a 55.1 percent sequential increase.
The species also became the top contributor to commercial fish production in Mimaropa, accounting for 27.1 percent of the region’s total catch.
“Enforcement of the fishing cycle has also led to a decrease in fishing mortality and the amount of immature galunggong in the catch,” the agency noted.
BFAR highlighted signs of healthier growth, with the average length of galunggong rising from 16.8 cm in 2015 to 17.6 cm in 2024, indicating a more mature and stable population.
BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig credited the regulated fishing cycle for balancing ecological sustainability with economic stability:
“The success of the annual roundscad fishing cycle in Palawan shows what we can do together through science and discipline. It proves that science-based conservation is not a hindrance to the fishing industry, but its greatest ally.”
Salilig added that findings from the National Stock Assessment Program confirmed the positive results of the conservation policy, thanking fishing communities for their compliance.
“By respecting the natural spawning cycles of the galunggong, we are not just protecting an ecosystem; we are securing the food supply and the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino fishers for years to come,” he said.
The closed season for commercial galunggong fishing in Northern Palawan runs from November 1 to January 31, while fishing is allowed from February 1 to October 31.
Implemented through a 2015 administrative order, the policy covers waters in the West Philippine Sea and the Sulu Sea, protecting key breeding grounds during peak spawning periods.