Majority of the fisherfolks were full-time fishers with monthly income from fishing ranging from Php 1,000-6,000 for the marginal fishers to Php 20,000-100,000 for the commercial fishers. About half of the fisherfolks earned Php 1,000-3,000 per month, while others were fishing for consumption only with an average monthly income of Php 2,700. Both motorized and nonmotorized boats are utilized in most fishing activities except in the gathering of sea cucumbers and shells. The growing importance of ring net fishing in the Camotes Sea has given rise to many speculations regarding its effect on the fishery resources. Most of the marginal fishermen, for instance, believe that the rapid increase in the number of commercial fishing activities that catch small pelagic fishes in the Camotes Sea would, in the long run, lead to the depletion of these fishery resources if not properly regulated. In any fishery investigation, information on stock assessment is deemed necessary, particularly to commercially important species of fish. Information on sexual maturation and sex ratio of many ring net caught fishes in the Camotes Sea is, however, inadequate and hence an attempt has been made to study this aspect of fishery biology in the Camotes Sea. This report presents the findings using the data gathered by NSAP Region 7 on the catch trends of the commercial ring net fishery in the Camotes Sea from 2003-2012, and the population dynamics and exploitation rates of the major fish resources exploited by this fishery. The results are then compared to the findings in an earlier study by Jabat and Dalzell (1988) of the Danao ring net fishery from 1983-1987.

The issue on the overfishing of parrotfishes, locally known as “molmol” (subfamily Scarinae under family Labridae), in the coastal waters of Bohol province in Central Visayas has been raised by the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Bohol through Resolution No. 1 series of 2018 that pushes for the implementation of “open and closed fishing season” of all parrotfishes in the entire province. In any management intervention, baseline assessment of the stocks in question should be done as a significant basis for appropriate measures to be taken, thus this study. In Bohol, apart from the economic value, they carry essential functions in maintaining the ecological balance in the reef ecosystem. Parrotfishes are considered economically important as preferred fish among locals and tourists. The stock assessment of parrotfishes in Danajon Bank in the Bohol Sea and Cebu Strait was conducted by the National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) Region 7 from 2015 to 2018 in 16 coastal municipalities of Bohol. It recorded 24 Scarine species across six genera. The green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), categorized as vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, was noted in Cebu Strait in 2015. Scarus ghobban, comprising 82.25%, dominated the catch in Danajon Bank; Scarus forsteni (30.07%) in Bohol Sea; and Chlorurus sordidus (58.45%) in Cebu Strait. Among the Scarines, S. ghobban dominated across fishing grounds from 2015 to 2018 with an aggregate of 10,267.69 kg (or 63.94%) monitored catch equivalent to 0.26% relative to all other species surveyed in the same period. The assessment also indicated that among the 22 fishing gear types being observed as used in catching parrotfishes, speargun is the most prevalent or frequently used. Moreover, the same assessment showed that the catch seasonality of S. ghobban determined from spear gun appears to be abundant during the first quarter in a year; in June, August, and December when higher monthly mean Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) were also noted. However, the annual mean CPUE of speargun has decreased from 11.93 kg/day in 2017 to 9.22 kg/day in 2018. Population parameters of S. ghobban as the top one species were estimated using the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (FISAT) software and Froese Indicator Tool. Biological indicators for S. ghobban show signs of overfishing as reflected on its high fishing mortality (F/M), decreasing average length below maturity length, decreasing catch per unit effort in the current year, low percentage of mature in the catch, and increasing exploitation ratio (E). All of which already breached the limit reference points. In 2017 and 2018, the mature size composition of the catch was only 1.9 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, far off from the 90-100% target and below the 50% limit. The values indicate that majority of the samples were small sizes; however, it cannot be determined if they were juveniles since this study excludes reproductive sampling. Optimum length (Lopt) was estimated at 29 cm (Total Length); lengths within ± 10% Lopt range at 26.1 to 31.9 cm and megaspawner at 31.9 cm up. Based on the results, suggested recommendations are indicated herein for possible consideration of the policymakers.

The stock status of Blue Swimming Crab (BSC), Portunus pelagicus, locally known as lambay, in Danajon Bank was assessed from June 2019 to September 2020 to monitor the impact of the BSC stock enhancement initiative by the Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc. (PACPI) in collaboration with BFAR 7. The stock was assessed based on the indicators, namely, catch per unit effort (CPUE), exploitation rate (E), average size, length at first maturity (Lm), and Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR). Data analysis was done using FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (FiSAT) II software and the Barefoot Ecologist’s Toolbox for the Length-based Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR). Results show that BSC dominated the monitored landings accounting for 66% of the overall catch harvested mainly by crab pot and crab net. Higher CPUEs were obtained in the months of July, June, May and August with annual mean observed to be higher than the previous assessment conducted by ECOFISH in Danajon Bank particularly for crab pot. Population characteristics revealed that male crab grew slightly faster having higher asymptotic length (L∞ =21.65cm Carapace Width or CW) and growth constant (K=1.3yr-1) than female (L∞ =21.40cm CW, K=1.28yr-1). Sex ratio of male to female was at 1:1.28 indicating plenty of female crabs were captured than male. Gravid crabs were abundant in May, December, April and October. Recruitment pattern showed two pulses with primary peak occurred in April and May and secondary pulse happened in August and September. Encouraging performance indicator noted from this assessment was on the bigger probability of capture sizes and mean length of commonly caught BSC falling above the recommended catchable size of 10.2 cm CW pursuant to DA-DILG JAO No. 1 s. 2014. Maturity size (Lm) was estimated at 10.54 cm CW, though smaller than the previous reported Lm values in Danajon but still within the threshold. The estimated SPR was 26%, higher than 20% limit reference point but slightly lower than 27% recorded in the assessment done by ECOFISH Project in 2014 to 2015. The present SPR though lower than 30% precautionary threshold however higher than 21% generated in Visayan Sea Region 7 for the same period. The higher SPR in Danajon Bank compared to Visayan Sea maybe credited to the effect of stock enhancement activity implemented in the area, though observation is not yet conclusive. On the other hand, unfavorable indicators were seen on high exploitation rate (E), high exploitation at yield per recruit some of which already breached the optimum level, consequently subjecting Danajon Bank to high fishing pressure. It is recommended to continue the BSC stock enhancement program of PACPI and BFAR 7 taking consideration some strategies for improvement specified in the recommendations.