A major push to restore declining fish stocks in Western Visayas and two other regions has gained momentum. The Economic Development Committee (EDC) formally endorsed a harvest strategy that seeks to ban the use of fine-mesh fishing nets in Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11 – which refers to Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Bicol Region – following reports that fishery production in them has plunged by 49 percent over the past decade. The strategy, presented by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 6 (DA‑BFAR‑6) during the committee’s March 5, 2026 meeting, targets the widespread use of fine‑mesh nets locally known as “sinsoro,” which authorities say capture juvenile and immature fish and accelerate the depletion of marine resources.

Galigao, N. N. (2026, March 11). Fine-mesh fishing nets face ban: Fish production in WV, 2 other regions drops 49%. Panay News, pp. 3, 15.