Decline of Lake Mainit’s Pijanga Linked to Overfishing and Illegal Harvests (Part 2)
KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte — Another major threat to the pijanga population in Lake Mainit is the illegal catching of saguyon—immature pijanga—according to Joyce Baclayo, senior aquaculturist of DA-BFAR Caraga. She explained that harvesting these juveniles prevents them from reaching maturity, drastically reducing future stocks. If allowed to grow, 3,000 baby pijanga could yield 30 kilos, representing significant economic potential.
Raul del Agua, Kitcharao’s municipal agriculturist, confirmed the decline, attributing it largely to illegal fishing, particularly the persistent saguyon harvest. Despite local ordinances banning the practice, enforcement remains weak due to high demand for the delicacy, often fried into fish patties.
Under the Philippine Fisheries Code, nets with mesh sizes below 3 cm are illegal, yet fine-mesh scoop nets continue to be used. Del Agua stressed the need for a unified ordinance across the four lakeshore towns to strengthen enforcement.
The Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA), once active in conservation efforts, has been inactive since 2019. Baclayo and fisheries expert Dr. Maria Lourdes De Guzman emphasized the need to revive and strengthen the alliance, including scientific input from local universities, to address overfishing and habitat degradation.
De Guzman warned that without intervention, the fishery risks collapse, leading to biodiversity loss and economic hardship for fisherfolk. Pijanga, a keystone species, plays a crucial role in Lake Mainit’s ecological balance. Its decline could trigger irreversible ecological shifts.
For locals like Zimmbodilion Mosende, pijanga is more than a food source—it’s tied to cultural identity. Fisherman Merida, who relied on pijanga to send his children to college, stressed the urgency of stopping illegal fishing to protect livelihoods.
The report concludes with a call for stricter enforcement, a closed fishing season during spawning months, and renewed conservation efforts to prevent the collapse of Lake Mainit’s pijanga fishery. (Ivy Marie Mangadlao / MindaNews)
This story is published with the support of Canal France International under the Media for One Health program.
