Oversupply of tamban fish recorded again in Bulan, Sorsogon

Three months after the reopening of the annual fishing season in the Visayan Sea, there is once again an oversupply of lawlaw or tamban fish in the town of Bulan, Sorsogon.

The closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea was implemented on November 15, 2020, and ended on February 15.

In the photos posted on social media by netizen Bong Hapon,  buckets of tamban were left inside the Bulan fish port complex.

However, most of the fish are simply allowed by fishermen to be swallowed into the sea and possibly cause water pollution.

According to Arnold Claveron, provincial field officer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or BFAR-Bicol, the implemented closed fishing season is a positive result of the abundant catch, but wasted because the town is running out of ice.

“Maganda dahil dumami yung isda, kaya lang pagdating naman sa sobra-sobrang isda katulad nga sa Bulan may time kasi na talagang kinakapos ng yelo. Meron din 3 planta dun ng yelo kaya lang pag masyadong marami, hindi kakayanin,” said Claveron.

Oversupply of tamban fish recorded again in Bulan, Sorsogon

He said the oversupply of fish could have been avoided if the fishermen had listened to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) announcement and BFAR to limit the catch whenever the fish brokers announced that they would buy very little.

In this way, the price drop during the peak season of tamban can also be avoided.

“Karamihan kasi sa mga lawlaw diyan o kaya sardines nilalabas ‘yan dito sa Bicol papunta sa Manila, may time kasi na nagi-stop-buying yun mga pinagdadalhan nilang canning factory, meron sa Navotas,” said Claveron.