‘Tawilis’ annual fishing ban in Taal Lake to start March

‘Tawilis’ annual fishing ban in Taal Lake to start March

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced the upcoming annual two-month ban for “tawilis” (Sardinella tawilis) fishing in Taal Lake in Batangas province.

“The public is again advised that the temporary suspension and/or prohibition of catching/fishing (active or passive), selling, trading, transporting or bringing to markets, and other transactions related to the trade of tawilis are in effect during the closed season,” the DENR-Calabarzon said in an announcement in Filipino dated Feb. 12.

The DENR advisory, which was posted by the Protected Area Management Office-Taal Volcano Protected Landscape on its Facebook page, included a warning that violators will face the corresponding penalties.

“The public is encouraged not to support tawilis caught through illegal methods and to be vigilant, and immediately report any witnessed violations to the authorities,” the DENR appealed to the public.

Authorities only allowed the traditional fishing methods in Taal Lake, or those that use gill nets, spear gun, and hook and line.

The illegal fishing methods and gears referred to the use of trawls and dredgers, and fine mesh nets in catching the endangered freshwater sardine.

Trawls destroy the natural seafloor habitat by disturbing the lake bed, affecting bottom-dwelling plants and animals by tearing up root systems or animal burrows, while dredgers damage or destroy fish spawning grounds and make river banks unstable by disturbing the bottom of the body of water.

Fine mesh nets can capture even the juvenile fish, according to fishery authorities.

The “closed season” from March 1 until April 30 aims to preserve the tawilis, which is endemic to Taal Lake. The period is the peak spawning period of the fish.

A female tawilis can produce as many as 18,000 eggs per spawning season, but each fish can grow to only about 12.7 centimeters (5 inches) long.

Fishers from localities

… Read more