Diamondback squid (Tysanoteuthis rhombus) exploration in the South China Sea, Area III: Western Philippines

The diamondback squid (Tysanoteuthis rhombus) is a potential resource popularized mainly for the export market in the Central Philippines and the positive results from other experimental activities. Exploratory fishing for the species using the giant squid jig was conducted on board MV SEAFDEC and MV Maya-Maya in the South China Sea (Western Philippines) to determine its occurrence, abundance and distribution in these areas. The gear employed is basically used in small boats hence, its operation on bigger vessels was very difficult. The result was discouraging with only one diamondback squid caught out of the 175 jigs set. The description and fishing operations of the gear are presented with comparison from other research and fishing results conducted in Camotes Sea, Calauag Bay, and Ormoc Bay which are considered potential areas

Effects of Net Depth Reduction to Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) Catch

Analysis on the catch of Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) from purse seine and ring nets of various net depths was conducted to assess the effect of reducing net depth as a compatible measure the Philippines has implemented and reducing the catch of Bigeye in its internal waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The study was based on observer reports from ring net and purse seine fishing vessels operating in internal waters and EEZ as well as from group seine operations in the high seas pocket 1. Nets were classed by depth to determine and compare variations on the catch of Bigeye, catch rates and relative proportion, species composition, and fishing grounds. Results indicated that the catch of Bigeye is correlated with the depth of net, with a significantly higher catch of Bigeye in deeper nets. The result of the study is consistent with other studies elsewhere, and in consonance with the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order 236 limiting the depth to 115 fathoms for ring net and purse seine operating in Philippine internal waters and the EEZ as a compatible measure to reduce the catch of Bigeye

Tuna resource exploration with longline in the South China Sea, Area III: Western Philippines

An exploratory tuna longline fishing survey was conducted using the research and training vessels of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, the 1,178 GT MV SEAFDEC and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the 165 GT MV MAYA-MAYA in the South China Sea Waters, West of the Philippines from April to May, 1998. A total of 3,796 hooks was set in sixteen (16) fishing stations. There were no tuna caught during the entire survey but only minor and irrelevant species like the Pacific lancetfish, sharks and an opah species, Lampris guttatus. The important fishing and oceanographic factors during the survey and other research results on longline are described and analyzed. Additional longline studies within and near the Philippines territorial waters are also presented to substantiate the research results of the joint SEAFDEC/BFAR resource exploratory

Socio-Economi Study Of Trawl Fisheries In Samar Sea, Philippines

Samar Sea is one of the major fishing grounds in Northwestern Samar with abundant pelagic and demersal fishery resources. In order to holistically manage the area, the Alliance of Local Government Units in Samar Sea planned to collectively manage the fishery resources using the concept of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM). However, the absence of socio-economic data as baseline for assessing and monitoring socio-economic impacts of proposed management actions is one of the important missing information. Therefore, a socio-economic study of trawl fisheries in the Samar Sea was conducted to gather baseline information for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation purposes of the proposed fishery management measures and contribute to the Samar Sea Fisheries Management Plan (SSFMP) to address its impact on affected fisher folks. The socio-economic survey covered both commercial trawls (fish and shrimp trawls) and smaller-scale municipal trawls (shrimp and squid trawls) with a total of 517 respondents and examined age composition, participation of female fishers, and also education. Majority of the respondents were male (99% in commercial fish trawls and 92.5% in commercial shrimp trawls). Most of the fishermen were between 25 to 44 years of age. In general, fishers’ education was inadequate with many only with elementary level education.. Most respondents were not members of any organization but those that were listed as part of an organization were members of fisherfolk association which is the most common type. Extended families exist among the respondents. In all types of trawling households, both commercial and municipal, the son, daughter and wife are the primary household members who stay with the respondents. Fishing was the most dominant source of livelihood of household members. Farming, teaching, carpentry, overseas work, fish processing, aquaculture, livestock rearing, fish brokering and ancillary fishing related occupations were among the household members’ livelihood sources. Access to credit is very low and correspond with the low membership in associations. There is a need for training on basic safety at sea as in general very minimal life-saving equipment and materials are onboard. The municipal trawler with a 10-16 hp engine seems to be operate more profitably than the municipal trawler with a 80 hp engine, considering operational costs vs. net profit derived from their operations as well as the income for fishermen

Giant squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus caught by jigs in Calauag Bay, southeastern Luzon

Test fishing for the giant squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus using large jigs was conducted in selected areas around Alabat Island, Quezon Province from May 1991 to October 1992. A total of 92 fishing days and 425.3 fishing hours were successfully completed and 1,650 jigs were set. The total catch was 82 giant squids of total weight 412 kg. Catch per unit effort was on average 0.02 kg/jig-hour or 5 squids/100 jigs, but higher from July to September. Capture of the giant squid by jigs was very seasonal, only from June to October. During these months, fish aggregating shelters were installed to catch pelagic fishes, and these shelters may have attracted the giant squid to Calauag Bay. The sample of 82 giant squids adds considerable information to the biology of this species in Philippine waters. The smallest specimen, caught in August 1991, was 23 cm in mantle length and 750 g in weight. The largest specimen, caught in September 1992, was a male 69 cm in mantle length and 10.3 kg in weight. Of the 66 specimens examined, 31 were males and 35 were females. About 52% of the specimens were sexually mature, 30% were maturing, and the rest were immature. Of the 61 stomachs dissected, 20 were empty, six were full or 3/4 full, and the rest were in between. The giant squid was a fish eater, almost all stomachs containing fish bones, spines, scales, or digested fish meat

By-catch Management and Discard Reduction Strategies National Report - Philippines

Capture fisheries in the Philippines is administratively divided into commercial and municipal sectors on the basis of vessel gross tonnage. As defined in the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, commercial fisheries include fishing operations that use vessels of over 3 gross tons (GT). Municipal fisheries, on the other hand, involve the use of vessels of 3 GT or less, including operations that do not involve the use of fishing boats. Municipal fisheries roughly translate to traditional, artisanal or small-scale fisheries, while the commercial fisheries correspond to the industrial or large-scale type fisheries

Technical Report on Inventory of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS)/Payao in Sulu-Sulawesi Seas

As part of Joint Research Program on Tuna Resources in Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, an inventory of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)/Payaos along oceanographic survey track was carried out onboard M.V.SEAFDEC2 during October to December 2014 and March to May 2015. This is to determine the extent of FADs distribution and density in this subregion. Using scanning radar and verification using binoculars/telescopes, a total of 510 FADs/Payaos were observed and inventoried along survey tracks in the study area. Majority of FADs/Payaos are anchored type and made of steel type buoys. Most dense FADs/Payaos observation is located outside Sarangani Bay, North of Manado in Indonesia and at about Latitude 4o N Longitude 122o E with mean density of 12-15 Payaos/36 sq.NM