Archives

Kalinangan Refereed Journal

Volume no. 18 | 2013/6
Issue no. 1


Title
Seasonal variations in fish abundance and physicchemical parameters of Batangas Bay, Philippines
Author
Dr. Percival A.T. Showers
Views: 705 Cited: 4
Downloads: 12
Click here to download
Abstract
Estimates of relative fish abundance from catch rates in the Batangas Bay local fisheries have been analysed in order to address the steady decline in fish stocks over the past two decades. The taxonomic composition and the seasonality of occurrence of individual species have also been investigated. This study was undertaken because reliable catch statistics had not been available to accurately substantiate the status of the stocks due mainly to poor statisticalcoverage in a diverse and widely scattered fishery. The fish samplings were conducted on a quarterly basis during the months of November 2008, February of 2009, and May 2009, and August of 2009. Estimates for November and February were pooled to represent the Dry Season, whilst May and August represent the Wet Season. All four monthly samples were pooled to provide the annual estimate. The study conducted 2 sampling days per week for four weeks in each of the four “sampling” months A total of 22 species from 30 genera were identified to characterize the Batangas Bay marine fishery. The clupeidae, represented by Don Pilas, the Rainbow Sardine, the Round Herring, and the Indian Oil Sardine is the most abundant family. The anchovies (Engraulidae) are also abundant but on a seasonal basis.Frigate Tuna (Scombridae) and the Round Scad (Carangidae) also show high abundance in all seasons. The Indian Sardine, locally known as Don Pilas, is overwhelmingly the most abundant fish species in Batangas Bay. Its year-round abundance has made it the economic base in the local fisheries of the bay. The fishing intensity on Don Pilas is very high and unsustainable.
Keywords
Seasonal variations, fish abundance, physicchemical parameters, Philippines
References
Allen, G. 2000. Marine Fishes of tropical Australia and Southeast Asia. Western Australian Museum.Francis St., Perth, Western Australia. 292 p.

Allen, G.R. and R. Steene. 1996. Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Western Australia. 378 p.

Bakus, G.J. 1994. Quantitative ecology and marine biology. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi. 160 pp.

Coutin, P.C. (2001). Artificial Reefs – Applications in Victoria from a literature review. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute Report No. 31. (Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute: Queenscliff).

Debelius, H. 2002. Fish Guide Indo-Pacific: Maldives to Philippines.

AquaPress, 25 Farriers Way, United Kingdom. 153 p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources/United Nations Development Programme (DENR/UNDP). 1997. Philippine biodiversity: An Assessment Action Plan. Bookmark, Makati City. 209pp.

English, S., C. Wilkinson, and V. Baker. 1994. Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources. Asean-Australia Marine Science Project. Townsville, Australia. 368 p.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly, Editors. 2000. FishBase 2000: concepts, design and data sources. ICLARM, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 344 p.

Heip, C., P.P.M.J. herman and K. Soetart. 1988. Data processing, evaluation and analysis, pp. 197-231. In: Higgins, R.P. and H. Thiel (eds.) Introduction to the study of meiofauna. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington D.C.

Jensen, A., Collins, K. and Lockwood, P. (2000). Current issues relating to artificial reefs in European seas. In 'Artificial reefs in European seas'. (Eds Jensen, A. C., et al.) pp. 489-499. (Kluwer Academic Publ.: Dordrecht, Netherlands.)

Leiske, E. and R. Myers. 2001. Coral Reef Fishes- Indo-Pacific and Caribbean. Harper Collins Publisher, Fulham Palace Road, London. 400 p.

Leewis, R., Van Moorsel, G. and Waardenburg, H. (2000). Shipwrecks on the Dutch Continental Shelf as artificial reefs. In 'Artificial reefs in European seas'. (Eds Jensen, A. C., et al.) pp. 419-434. (Kluwer Academic Publ.: Dordrecht, Netherlands.)

Myers, R.R. 1991. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Guam, USA. 298 p.

Ramos-Espla, A., Guillen, J. E., Bayle, J. T. and Sanchez-Jerez, P. (2000). Artificial anti-trawl reefs off Alicante, South-Eastern Iberian Penninsula: evolution of reef block and set designs. In 'Artificial Reefs in European Seas'. (Eds Jensen, A. C., et al.) pp.195-218. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, Netherlands.)

Spanier, E. (2000). Changes in the ichthyofauna of an artificial reef in the South Eastern Mediterranean in one decade. Scientia Marina 64, 279-284.