The catch and trade of seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) has been illegal in the Philippines since 2002, but the revision of the Philippines' domestic Fisheries Code in 2015 opened an opportunity to legalize seahorse fisheries and exports if they could be managed for sustainability. To generate vital knowledge in support of this option, we conducted 268 interviews with fishers and traders across seventeen coastal provinces in 2019. We estimated a total median annual catch of ~1.5 to 1.6 million individual seahorses, with the tally depending on the method used. Fishers reported catching seahorses from ten different types of fishing gears. The gear with the highest CPUE was a modified push-net, which is pulled across the ocean floor (locally named a “micro-trawl”), with 100 seahorses caught gear-1day-1, while compressor divers contributed half the total estimated catch. Other important gears were spear/skin divers and standard push nets. The provinces of Iloilo, Masbate, Sulu, Bohol, and Palawan together accounted for over 80% of the total national catch estimate. We found little evidence of live trade or domestic use, suggesting that most captured seahorses were exported dried. Buyers reported selling seahorses for between three and five times the price they paid fishers.
Megachasma pelagios, commonly known as the megamouth shark, is the lone extant shark species belonging to the family Megachasmidae and genus Megachasma. It was first described in 1978 by Taylor et al. (1983), with fewer than three hundred specimens recorded to date. Given its rarity and elusiveness, no pregnant or neonate megamouth sharks have ever been documented. On 14 November 2023, a freshly dead adult female megamouth shark carrying seven pups washed up on the shores of Barangay Ipil, Dipaculao, Aurora, Luzon Island, Philippines. This event has confirmed that megamouth sharks are ovoviviparous. Here, we establish the identity of the specimens using morphological and molecular methods and identify their morphometric differences through allometric analysis. Morphological identification was performed using available photo documentation and morphometric data, with results compared with published literature. On the other hand, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-COI) gene was used for molecular identification. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the Kimura two-parameter (K2P) model with 1000 bootstrap replicates. Allometric analysis was investigated using linear regression of each of the 19 morphometric trait measures against the total body length of the specimens.
Expert opinion surveys serve as a tool that collects perspectives from various experts, which can be used to enhance the reliability of a tool or study. This paper aimed to validate previously collected climate exposure factors currently impacting small pelagic fisheries and milkfish aquaculture farmers in the Philippines and to validate adaptation measures. The study was conducted through an online survey, where the questionnaire was emailed to experts from various segments of the academe, including non-government workers, and other government researchers, resulting in a total of N=22 respondents. These experts were also asked to rank the exposure factors and the adaptation measures that were taken previously from an online stakeholders’ consultation workshop on small pelagic fisheries and milkfish aquaculture. The survey indicated that the top five exposure factors for small pelagic fisheries were coastal development (due to habitat destruction), water quality, temperature changes, typhoons, and declining catch. For milkfish aquaculture, the top five exposure factors were water quality (leading to fish stock depletion), fry source, temperature changes, typhoons, and salinity.
This study investigated the various seaweed farming methods in Western Visayas, Philippines. Data were gathered through workshops, focus group discussions (FGD), key informant interviews (KII), and secondary sources, and were subsequently analyzed. Results showed that four out of six provinces in the region serve as the major suppliers of fresh and dried seaweeds namely, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental. The eucheumatoids species widely farmed in production sites across Western Visayas include Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) L.M. Liao 1996, K. striatus (F. Schmitz) L.M. Liao 1996, and Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L. Burman) Collins and Hervey 1917. Although farming techniques vary per province and mainly rely on culture sites, the simple long line (fixed-off bottom and floating line) is the most common method utilized throughout the region. Other methods employed are broadcast, floating bamboo raft, spiderweb, octopus, and single vertical floating (tumbo-tumbo). Significant roles and activities performed by key actors and the enabling environment were discussed.
The current work is the first effort to quantify cell viability and profiling of cell morphotypes found in the coelomic fluid of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS) (Acanthaster planci L.), collected in the territorial waters of Southern Leyte, Philippines. For the cell viability, based on the trypan blue exclusion test on the varying time interval for counting, at fresh preparation (0 minutes), the counted live cells are 137 (mean: 34.25 ± 6.45) with coelomocyte viability of 6.8 ± 10.26 x 105 cells ml; as the time increases, the viable cells from the prepared fractions decrease. This study reveals that the coelomic fluid of COTS contains diverse coelomocyte morphotypes, including spherule, vibratile, fusiform, crystal, progenitor, and phagocyte cells, all of which have distinct cellular sizes and morphologies. These cell types are also present during physiological changes in COTS. These findings offer valuable insights into the physiology and cellular component of COTS, potentially serving as a foundation in developing control strategies, including the discovery of novel and effective compounds to prevent or eradicate outbreaks.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted municipal fishing households, a vulnerable group heavily dependent on the sea for their livelihoods. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to food insecurity among municipal fishing households in Kawit, Cavite. To achieve this, a cross-sectional design and an online survey were utilized. Food insecurity status was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) concurrently with the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) questionnaire to gain a deeper understanding of the food security status of these fishing households. Multiple logistic regression was employed to analyze the factors contributing to food insecurity. The findings revealed that while dietary diversity was moderate, with households consuming not more than six types of food groups, consuming nutrient-dense foods was limited among fishing households. Alarmingly, a substantial proportion, three out of five households, faced significant food insecurity during the pandemic. Factors contributing to this insecurity included having young adult household heads, low income, and engaging in fewer weekly fishing trips. Conversely, adopting direct catch consumption practices, receiving financial assistance, and receiving both financial and food assistance all reduced the likelihood of food insecurity.
Milkfish larvae (Chanos chanos) are an omnivorous species. Consequently, this study aimed to identify the types of plankton found in the stomachs of milkfish larvae and to determine suitable natural feed. The research was carried out in the coastal area of Slamaran, Pekalongan City, using three sampling sites with different substrate structures. The main data collected included the diversity of plankton species in the stomachs of milkfish larvae and the plankton present in their natural habitat. The results showed that various plankton genera, such as Tintinnopsis sp., Peridinium sp., Coscinodiscus sp., Brachionus sp., Chlorella sp., Cryptomonas sp., Skeletonema sp., Navicula sp., and Rhizosolenia sp., were in the stomachs of the milkfish seeds. In the natural waters, several plankton genera were identified, including Nitzchia sp., Amphora sp., Cyclotella sp., Chlamydomonas sp., Microcystis sp., Alexandrium sp., Tintinnopsis sp., Oocystis sp., Skeletonema sp., Brachionus sp., Coscinodiscus sp., and Peridinium sp. The water quality parameters were relatively stable across the three sampling locations. The types of plankton in the stomachs of milkfish seeds caught from natural waters included green algae, blue-green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and several zooplankton species.
The Rasian and Asahan rivers are located in the South Aceh District, Aceh Province, Indonesia, and are affected by the development of the cement industrial area and ports due to their proximity to the area. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and document the fish species diversity in the Rasian and Asahan Rivers as baseline and comparative data for the aquatic resource management plans and environmental impact monitoring programs, respectively. Sampling locations are determined purposively by dividing the river into upstream, midstream, and estuary. Furthermore, the fish was caught using gill nets and casting nets. The results show that a total of 16 species belonging to 12 families are obtained from the Rasian River. Meanwhile, 13 species belonging to 11 families were discovered in the Asahan River. These make a total of 24 species belonging to 18 families. One of the species recorded in the Asahan River is the alien fish (Trichogaster pectoralis). The diversity index in these two rivers falls within the moderate category, while the uniformity and dominant indices are in the high category.
High exploitation and limited fishery data pose challenges to the sustainable sea cucumber fishery management in the Philippines. This study provides detailed documentation of sea cucumber catches and production across Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, and Bongao, Tawi-tawi. The daily catch was recorded by assigned local enumerators from December 2019 to November 2021. A total of 9 – 31 sea cucumbers were reported in the catches out of 37 commercially exploited species, with the highest number recorded in Bongao and the lowest in Barobo. The most active gatherers were observed in Olutanga and the least in Barobo (38–182). Collectors typically gather sea cucumbers 5–29 days a month, with collectors from Barobo having the most frequent days. The catch-per-unit effort (CPUE) of fresh catches peaked in Bongao at 7 kg/day, while Barobo had the lowest at 1.9 kg/day. Annual harvest production estimates from five municipalities would yield 352.31 MT of fresh sea cucumbers. Half the catches were medium-valued (51%), and only 18% were high-valued.
The West Philippine Sea (WPS) is one of the identified biogeographic regions of the Philippines based on the biophysical attributes of its coral reef communities and has the highest biomass of reef fishes and species richness. From April to May 2022, coral reef assessment and fish visual census (FVC) through underwater surveys were conducted in nine sampling areas in the Kalayaan Island Group. A total of 19 dives in shallow water areas (SWR) and mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCE) were conducted. Sabina shoal has the highest percentage of coral cover in SWR, with an average of 35.66% and 30.62% in MCE. Moreover, the FVC results recorded 155 species from 28 families of reef fishes associated with live corals. The most dominant fish families are surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), which shared 37%, followed by triggerfishes (Balistidae, 22%) and damselfishes (Pomacentridae, 10%). Among these, 76 species were found in Sabina Shoal. Species diversity of fishes revealed moderate to high diversity based on species richness, while the abundance was categorized as moderate to very high.
The sixty-six (66)-year brackishwater pond production trends from 1952 to 2018 in the Philippines reflect low metric tonnage and low productivity per hectare despite increasing mangrove conversion to fishponds and increasing aquaculture intensification nationwide. These trends were related to yearly climatological means by graphical analysis and regression. Our analysis suggests that the likely cause of the sharp decline in production and productivity starting in 1993 is the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption and other environmental stress factors, including a warming climate. Environmental stress factors have contributed to about 85,500 MT of production loss every year since 1993 and a slight yearly productivity decline between 0.04 kg ha-1 and 0.1 kg ha-1 since the early 1970s. Increases in mangrove conversion to fishponds did not increase production nor productivity. Despite aquaculture intensification and shifts in production modalities, the mean production of milkfish in 2018 is similar to records taken in the late 1980s.
With pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, there is a compelling need to look into bioactive chemicals present in seaweed as novel treatment options for fish infections. This study evaluated the phytochemical characteristics of Gracilaria edulis extracts and their antimicrobial activities against selected aquaculture pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial assay test confirmed that both methanolic and ethanolic extracts of G. edulis inhibited the bacteria comparable to that of the positive control.
The “aramang” industry’s economic contribution to the local and export markets has been significant for more than two decades. However, due to resource overexploitation, stock depletion is being experienced. A management strategy called “Gentleman’s Agreement” (GA), an informal agreement based on oral arguments and thrusts of all parties involved has been adopted by the “aramang” fisherfolk in Aparri, Cagayan, as a tool to conserve and bring back the abundance of the stocks. This study tries to assess the status of stocks when this GA is being implemented in the area as a basis for policy formulation to improve resource utilization. Stock assessment methodologies and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) were used.
The contribution of women in the fisheries sector is often underappreciated and under-valued because fisheries have long been considered a male-dominated sector. Studies have shown, however, that countries that value women’s involvement in this sector have reached high levels of economic growth and social well-being. Thus, the present study assessed the women’s participation in the capture and marketing sectors of the glass eel fisheries in the five coastal villages surrounding the mouth of Cagayan River in Aparri, Cagayan, Philippines. A household interview and a small group discussion were conducted to gather relevant and in-depth data on the different aspects like socioeconomic status, present roles, activities, responsibilities, access to and control over resources, and problems and constraints of both genders in the study area.
This study investigated the effects of dietary vitamin C (vitC) and lipid on the expression of immune-related genes in Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae subjected to thermal stress, with water temperature fluctuating from 27.0 ± 1.1 to 34.0 ± 1.8 °C for 15 days. Three experimental diets were formulated containing two different levels of vitC (1 and 3 g kg -1) and lipid (17 and 34 g kg -1). Significantly higher total hemocyte count (9.63 × 105 ± 3.28 × 105 cells ml -1) was observed in shrimp fed 3 g kg -1 vitC and 34 g kg -1 lipid diets. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the comparative 2-ΔΔCt method, the dietary vitC level of 3 g kg -1 significantly upregulated heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), crustin, and the Prophenoloxidase (proPO) system.
This study documented the post-harvest handling of glass eel gatherers in Aparri, Cagayan which can serve as baseline information for the establishment of possible management measures to improve the practices of glass eel gathering, conditioning and maintenance for a more sustainable utilization of the stocks and avoid large post-harvest losses in the process. The demographic profile, post-harvest handling practices, and challenges encountered in each step of post-harvest practices were determined. The study was conducted through individual interviews with 165 glass eel gatherers and five local consolidators.
This paper reports an incidence of hermaphroditism in green mussel (Perna viridis) in Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay Palawan, Philippines, through histology. One hermaphrodite specimen (0.18% of the total samples) was recorded. The sample was macroscopically classified as a male. However, histology showed the presence of both male and female gametes inside the gonad with the dominance of male gametes.
