ANTIQUE — Fishermen in Barangay Nato, Anini-y, Antique, have struck what many are calling a “blessing from the sea” after hauling in a large catch of skipjack tuna (tulingan) earlier this week. A video shared online shows the bounty freshly brought ashore on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, attracting attention from both locals and netizens alike.

Skipjack tuna are highly valued in the Philippines, not only for local consumption but also for commercial trade, making such a large haul both economically and culturally significant. This rare abundance at a single landing site underscores the generosity of the waters surrounding Antique, a province whose coastal communities depend heavily on small-scale fishing for livelihood.

However, while celebrations are in order, this incident also invites reflection on the sustainability of fisheries. Overfishing, climate change, and habitat degradation have increasingly threatened tuna populations globally. What was once considered plentiful is now monitored closely to prevent depletion. Local authorities and fisherfolk alike are tasked with balancing immediate economic benefit with long-term ecological responsibility.

Moments like these highlight the tension between nature’s generosity and human reliance on it. The sea provides, but only if communities respect its limits and practice sustainable harvesting. The extraordinary catch in Antique is a cause for both celebration and contemplation. The pressing question lingers: how long can the bounty of our seas continue to sustain us if we fail to fish responsibly? (Larawan mula sa: 93.3 XFM Antique / Facebook)