Residents of two towns in Cebu were delighted to find free “malangsi” or “mangsi” fish washed up on their shores. The unexpected bounty occurred near the port in the municipality of Argao around 4:00 PM on Thursday, as reported by Fe Marie Dumaboc on GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.
Locals quickly gathered at the port to collect the fish, passing them up to others waiting on higher ground. A similar event was recorded at the same time along the coast of Barangay San Roque in the town of Ginatilan, where residents filled their containers with the fish.
This phenomenon of fish stranding also happened in Poblacion, Ginatilan, from February 11 to 13, 2024. According to Mario Ruinata, the regional director (officer in charge) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7, this influx of fish is a result of the implementation of a three-month closed fishing season. Commercial fishing was prohibited in the Visayan Sea from November 15, 2023, to February 15, 2024, contributing to the increase in fish near coastal areas.