This study aimed to determine the social benefits and costs of the closed season policy for sardines in the Zamboanga Peninsula which started December 2011. The closed season policy stipulated that commercial vessels are not allowed to fish for sardines during the three months of November to January. The data used in this study came from secondary and primary sources of the various components of the project. Social benefit-cost analysis was done and the benefit-cost ratio was computed using 2015 price. The results reveal that the benefit cost ratio is 2.4. The landed catch trend is increasing, the high value species caught also increased. The volume of sales for both bottling and cannery was not affected by the policy, and has generally increased. Factory employment declined during the months of December to February, but increased overtime work was needed for the more intensive operation during the open season. This has increased incomes and also increased employment. Factory workers had found alternative livelihoods during the closed season thus, the slight increases in household incomes from alternative sources as well. In economic terms, there is a positive effect due to the policy. Counterfactual wise, if no policy was imposed, then there may be societal losses from the ecological perspective.
