As commercial fishing operations resumed following the lifting of the Visayan Sea closed season, authorities placed commercial vessel operators squarely on notice: compliance with fisheries, licensing, and safety regulations will be strictly enforced. The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 gathered commercial fishing operators in Barangay Bancal, Carles, Iloilo recently, emphasizing that the reopening of one of the country’s richest fishing grounds comes with heightened regulatory expectations. Sheryll Mesa, National Stock Assessment Program leader, reminded operators that measures such as the closed fishing season and mesh size regulations are not mere formalities but vital tools to sustain fish stocks and protect long-term commercial viability.

Galigao, N. N. (2026, February 21-22). BFAR places commercial fishing vessels under tighter scrutiny. Panay News, pp. 3, 15.