DA firms up plan to save rare northern Luzon fish from extinction

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has firmed up its plan to save from extinction a rare species of fish known to exist only in certain areas of northern Luzon. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has ordered the region’s fishery officials to implement planned interventions to determine the cause of the dwindling number of the ludong (lobed river mullet), and find a way to save the fish from extinction. In response to Alcala’s orders, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office in Cagayan Valley will deploy at least four teams of experts from different government agencies to conduct exploratory fishing of ludong in the coming weeks. The teams will study environmental factors causing the dwindling number of the ludong and will also possibly catch live specimens for breeding purposes, according to BFAR – Cagayan Valley director Jovita Ayson. Ayson added that her office is also pushing for the issuance of a joint administrative order to be signed by Alcala and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo calling for the protection and conservation of the ludong “[A lobbying effort] is also ongoing at the local level in order to elicit support from the local government units for the issuance of the joint administrative order," she said. Ayson likewise called on local fishermen to avoid catching the fish, known for its high price in the market as it is considered a delicacy. “We appeal to our fishermen to refrain from catching ludong this season and for buyers to forego their appetite in order to provide much needed respite for the species," she added. The ludong (Cestraeus plicatilis) is a rare and indigenous freshwater fish that thrives in the headwaters of the Cagayan river and in the Abra river system. The fish, said to be among the most expensive ones in the country, has decreased in number in the past years, due to unprecedented poaching or illegal catching. (See: Cagayan River's delectable ludong fish on the brink of extinction) Ludong fishing has earlier been banned in Cagayan, especially during the months of October to December, when the fish are expected to migrate to the ocean and breed.—With Joel Nueva, Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV