SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Sardine fishing in 11 coastal areas in northeastern Mindanao will be suspended from Dec. 1 to March 1, 2027, to allow depleted fish stocks to recover. The three-month closed season covers eight areas in Agusan del Norte and three in Surigao del Norte under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 278, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-Caraga). The ban follows assessments showing critically low sardine populations and declining fish biomass due to years of excessive fishing.
To support affected communities, BFAR-Caraga has provided livelihood assistance and training since 2024 through the World Bank-funded Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project. The bureau is also working with local governments to harmonize fishing regulations and enforcement.
