North eastern palawan: The three-month closed-fishing season for round scad, locally known as galunggong, in North Eastern Palawan will commence on November 1, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced on Thursday. This initiative is set to last until January 31, 2025, as part of efforts to protect the species during its peak spawning period. According to Philippines News Agency, the BFAR emphasized that the use of purse seine, ring net, and bagnet for catching galunggong within the conservation area northeast of Palawan is strictly prohibited. This closed fishing season is a science-based conservation strategy aimed at allowing mature fish to reproduce and juveniles to grow, thereby promoting regeneration, sustainability, and long-term availability of these valuable fish stocks. Significant progress has been observed, with the percentage of mature galunggong catch increasing from 58 percent in 2015 to 85 percent in 2023, indicating more of the species are reaching reproductive age. Thi s data, provided by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI)'s National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP), underscores the positive impact of the closed fishing season. Now in its ninth year of implementation, the closed fishing season for galunggong has consistently produced favorable outcomes based on scientific data gathered in collaboration with the NFRDI's NSAP. There has also been an improvement in catch quality, with the average length of round scad growing to 18.9 centimeters in 2023, compared to 16.7 cm in 2015. These results reflect improved fish growth, species resilience, and a sustainable population, credited to the effective execution of the closed fishing season. Beyond increased maturity and improved quality, the initiative has also enhanced overall galunggong production in Palawan, with a reported 8,146.84 metric tons (MT) in 2022, up from 7,507 MT in 2016. Following this, a similar closed fishing season will be implemented in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula f rom November 15, 2024, to February 15, 2025, for small pelagic fish, including sardines. BFAR also assured a stable fish supply in local markets, with 30,000 MT of imported fish from Vietnam and China arriving in batches.