BFAR orders 45-day ban on ‘ludong’ fishing in Cagayan River, Abra, Ilocos Sur

Photo from BFAR Region 2

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) temporarily banned fishing, transporting, and selling of the ludong fish during its spawning period from October 1-November 15.

The 45-day ban includes the entire stretch of Cagayan River in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Quirino, Cagayan, and its tributaries in Abra and Ilocos Sur.

BFAR Administrative Circular 247 states that “it shall be unlawful for any person, association or corporation to catch or cause to be caught, using any type of gear or fishing method, purchase, sell or expose for sale, transport, export or have in possession, fish known as ludong, its by-products or derivatives, during the closed season as defined.”

Lawyer Arsenio Bañares, BFAR-Cagayan Valley’s fishery enforcement chief, said in a statement Tuesday that law enforcers were monitoring identified ludong hotspots.

The regulation imposes a fine of P6,000, forfeiture of catch and fishing gadgets, and/or imprisonment for six months and one day to six years against violators.

A penalty of six months and one day to eight years of imprisonment and/or fine of P80,000 and forfeiture of catch and fishing gadgets should also be imposed if the offense involves catching spawning ludong during the ban.

Meanwhile, the export of spawning ludong carries a penalty of eight years imprisonment, confiscation of the catch, and a fine equivalent to double the value of the catch, based on the circular.

Ludong, or the “president’s fish,” is one of the most expensive fish in the market at P5,000 per kilo, the Provincial Government of Abra said in a Facebook post. – Marian Feliz Calica, trainee

KGA