By Maria Teresa B. Benas
BANGUED, Abra, Nov. 5 (PIA) — Members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Save the Abra River Project will push for the promotion of the Save the Ludong Project during its consultation meeting held at the Baluarte Zoological Park in Vigan City.
The TWG discussed the provisions of the draft administrative order of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that would provide a temporary but urgent solution to the problem on the diminishing stock of mullet (scientific name cestraeus plicatilis) and locally called “ludong.”
It prohibits catching ludong during the spawning period in the months of October, November, and December. This period will be declared “close season” for the fishers along the Abra River in order to protect the fish.
Ludong is the most expensive freshwater fish that thrives in the upstream of rivers within the vicinity of the watershed areas.
It is one of the endangered species as it is at high risk because it travels to the estuary (a semi-enclosed coastal body of water, which connects to the open sea) during the spawning period to lay its eggs then goes back upstream.
Along the way, the ludong can be easy targets of unscrupulous fishing methods such as padait, asar, bukatot, and fishnets with very fine weaving. Hence, the urgency of passing the proposed AO and for its immediate implementation to save the ludong from extinction.
Parallel to the prohibition of the catching of ludong is also the prohibition of catching of “ipon,” the the larvae of the ludong. A “closed season” for the catching of ipon was likewise determined and declared the month of February which is the last appearance of the ipon in the estuaries. The closed season will allow the ipon to go upstream to be able to grow in the freshwater which is their habitat and allow them to multiply.
The Save the Abra River Project aims to save the Abra River from various threats from the environment which are mostly man-made in nature such as deforestation, mining activities, and illegal fishing methods. (JDP/MTBB-PIA CAR, Abra)
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=111351915048
Related Story: Special Report: Conserving the President’s Fish
abrenian.com 
Kudos to all individuals involved in this project. Igat, pasayan, palileng, ipon, etc. are gone in other rivers.
Posted by Abo | November 6, 2012, 1:19 amman made destructions are d main cause of d threat of ludong extinction at abra river like mining. is d prvcl gov nf abra has a clear policy in smal scale mining? baay tineg n manabo are known to have ilegal mining d governor shld regulate ds aktivity. no clear policy il enrich myself wd d undr table transaktion
Posted by albolote | November 6, 2012, 4:09 amON THE TOPIC…’SAVE THE ABRA RIVER PROJECT TO SAVE “LUDONG” TOO’.
An article written by: Maria Teresa B. Benas on Nov. 5, 2012
One question arises…”Is ‘IPON’ genetically related to the fish ‘LUDONG’?
THE article CLAIMS that the ‘ipon’ is LARVAE OF LUDONG!!!
The QUESTION is directed to the people of BFAR and the Phil. Bureau of Fishery.
Thank you.
Dr. Tuason
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | November 15, 2012, 10:25 pmSYSOP:..
Sir, for me to continue my article, please contact the people of BFAR or Bureau of Fishery to answer the question.
Repeat-question….”Is ‘Ipon’ genetically related to the fish ‘Ludong’?
Many thanks,
Dr.Leo
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | November 18, 2012, 9:44 pmFOLKS:…
AWAITING FOR YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION…. ANYONE
IS THE LARVAE “IPON” GENETICALLY RELATED TO THE FISH “LUDONG”?
DR. LEO
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | January 24, 2014, 5:50 am