Alarmed by the continuing depletion of fish stocks in the Visayan Sea, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 has reaffirmed its stand against the use of prohibited fine-mesh fishing nets, warning that unchecked violations will further worsen illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in municipal waters. BFAR-6 regional director Remia Aparri, together with Concepcion’s Mayor Milliard Villanueva, met with members of the Concepcion Sinsoro Owners and Operators Association (CONSOOA) on January 9 to address the continued operation of “sinsoro” fishing, a method that uses fine-meshed nets banned under existing fisheries regulations due to their destructive impact on marine resources.

Galigao, N. N. (2026, January 15). BFAR-6 moves to enforce ban on fine-mesh nets, warns of worsening fish stock decline. Panay News, pp. 3, 15.