Lake Mainit, the fourth largest and deepest lake in the Philippines, spans 17,060 hectares across Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte, serving as a lifeline for 31 lakeshore barangays. Its famed pijanga (Glossogobius giuris), a native goby fish, has long been a cornerstone of local livelihoods, with vendors along the Pan-Philippine Highway enticing motorists to “buy a piece of the lake.” However, a recent stock assessment by the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga has revealed a troubling decline in pijanga stocks, raising alarms about overfishing and illegal harvests. Catches have dropped by 30.3% from 2016 to 2024, with immature fish dominating harvests, signaling unsustainable fishing practices and insufficient reproduction. Fishing pressure, exacerbated by a growing number of fishers and diverse, often unsustainable gear, threatens the lake’s ecosystem. Stakeholders urge immediate action to safeguard this vital resource and ensure future sustainability.
