Legal Measures to Conserve LUDONG: The Most Expensive Fish in the Philippines

Have you eaten the most expensive fish in the Philippines?

President's fish or LUDONG is dubbed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as the most expensive fish in the Philippines. A kilo of this fish would cost as much as P5,000.00.  It got its name as the President's fish because it was the favorite of former President Ferdinand Marcos because of its unique taste and distinctive aroma.

But because of overfishing, this fish is becoming endangered.  Thus, efforts are made to protect it.

In 1952, Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 31 was issued to:

1.  Aim to conserve Ludongs in Northern Luzon

2.  Prohibit to capture, purchase, sale, preparation, and serving of LUDONG for private or public consumption during its seasonal migration (October to January)

3.  Prohibit the use of tabukol or cast nets of large meshes, tabak or small drag seine for river fishing, or pateng or cylindrical fish pot for catching mullet in the Cagayan River & its tributaries and in the Santa-Abra River system during October to January.

In 2006, an Oplan Sagip LUDONG was launched where there was a wide fish-hunt in Aparri for 60 pieces of live LUDONG for research and identification purposes.

In 2014, an Administrative Circular No. 27 was issued to impose a penalty of P80,000.00 to those who catch Ludongs.  The circular also stated that those who are caught selling, catching, purchasing, and exporting of Ludongs can face up to 8 years of imprisonment.  The order is effective from October- November, the spawning seasons of Ludongs.

For more information, catch the episode of GMA News TV 11's episode of "I Juander's" "Yaman ng Dagat".

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