The Visayan Sea is a sea in the Philippines surrounded by the islands of the Visayas. It is bounded by the islands Masbate to the north, Panay to the west, Leyte to the east, and Cebu and Negros to the south.[1]

Visayan Sea
Islas de Gigantes in the Visayan Sea
Visayan Sea is located in Visayas
Visayan Sea
Visayan Sea
Location within the Philippines
Visayan Sea is located in Philippines
Visayan Sea
Visayan Sea
Visayan Sea (Philippines)
Location
Coordinates11°30′00″N 123°40′00″E / 11.50000°N 123.66667°E / 11.50000; 123.66667
Typesea
EtymologyVisayas
Basin countriesPhilippines

The sea is connected to several bodies of water: the Sibuyan Sea to the northwest via the Jintotolo Channel, the Samar Sea to the northeast, the Guimaras Strait to the southwest which leads to Panay Gulf, the Tañon Strait to the south, and the Camotes Sea to the southeast.

The largest island within this sea is Bantayan Island of Cebu province.

The sea is a major fishing ground for sardines, mackerel, and herring the Philippines.[2] In 2020, the Western Visayas accounts for 20 percent of sardines total production in the Philippines.[1] The sea covers an area of roughly 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) with 22 municipalities along its coastline. A closed season is imposed annually from November 15 to March 15 in portions of the sea through Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167 since 1989.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lena, Perla. "Visayan Sea closed season starts Nov. 15: BFAR". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Napata, Ruby; Espectato, Liberty; Serofia, Genna (2020). "Closed Season Policy in Visayan Sea, Philippines: A Second Look". Ocean & Coastal Management. 187: 4. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105115. S2CID 213881408.
  3. ^ "A tale of two seas: Closed season is a mixed bag for Philippine sardines industry". Mongabay Environmental News. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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