Earlier today (October 23, 2018), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of Cordillera and Region 1 convened at the Provincial Fishery Office located in Calaba, Bangued, for the consultation of goby fry resources in the Cordilleras and Ilocos regions.

The meeting aims to regulate and sustain the production of goby fry in the Cordilleras and the Ilocos regions as well as to reiterate to the local government units its current status.

Municipal agriculturists, municipal fisheries and aquatic resources management council (MFARMC) chairmen, and fisherfolk leaders in the province and from Santa, Ilocos Sur attended the consultation.

Nu saan tayo nga i-manage daytoy, addan to tiempo a mapukaw dayta a resources,” said resource speaker Jonathan Dickson.

In order to regulate the production of ipon, participants from both regions created an action plan identifying issues and concerns on the environment, social, economic, and resources creating desired action for each.

“We are not trying to ban but we will just regulate the collection,” BFAR-CAR Regional Director Milagros C. Morales said during an interview.

“Sana maging aware ang ating mga fisherfolks na kung tuloy-tuloy ang unregulated collecting ng resources, darating tayo sa point na ang mga ito ay mawawala na,” added Morales.

Goby fry or “ipon” is a very tiny specie of fish being caught only in season. Peak season are months of October, November and December. It grows on tap water but lays egg on salt water.