The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may have failed to fully implement the closed fishing season in Taal Lake that placed tawilis on the list of endangered species. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had claimed there have been conservation efforts to preserve tawilis as early as 2013, particularly the implementation of a closed fishing season in the area. “BFAR recommended that before but I think they (DENR) did not fully implement it. We are now reiterating that they study and really implement the closed fishing season,” BFAR director Eduardo Gongona said. “I think we are also somewhat at fault because we failed to repeat and remind them that they should implement it. But now, we really need the closed fishing season to improve production and preserve the habitat and its productivity,” he added.

Simeon, L. M., & Marcelo, E. (2019, January 27). DENR, BFAR move to protect tawilis. The Philippine Star, p. 12.