2011 to know the status of the commercially important fishes with emphasis on the endemic freshwater sardine, Sardinella tawilis. Results of the fish landed catch survey in 11 coastal towns of the lake showed a decreasing fish harvest in the open fisheries from 1,420 MT to 460 MT in 1996 to 2011. Inventory of fisherfolk, boat, and gear also decreased to 16%, 7%, and 39%, respectively from 1998 to 2011. The most dominant gear is gill net which is about 53% of the total gear used in the lake with a declining catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 11kg/day to 4 kg/day from 1997 to 2011. Active gear such as motorized push net, ring net, and beach seine also operated in the lake with a CPUE ranging from 48 kg/day to 2,504 kg/day. There were 43 fish species identified in which S. tawilis dominated the catch for the last decade. However, its harvest also declined from 744 to 71 mt in 1996 to 2011. The presence of alien species such as jaguar fish, pangasius, and black-chinned tilapia amplified in 2009. Population parameters of S. tawilis from 2009 to 2011 were estimated using the FiSAT (FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool) software. The analysis of length frequency data showed an estimated L ∞ of 15.40 to 16.36 cm and K value ranged from 0.53 to 0.73. The total mortality (Z) ranged from 3.01 to 5.03, natural mortality (M) from 1.44 to 1.75, fishing mortality (F) from 1.57 to 3.28 and exploitation rate (E) from 0.52 to 0.65. The high values of fishing mortality and exploitation rates indicate unsustainable fishing practices. Conservation and management measures of the fishery resources in the lake were recommended for appropriate action of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).

As part of the conservation efforts to address the declining population of the only freshwater Sardinella (Family Clupeidae) endemic to Lake Taal, a two-year study was conducted to determine the possible spawning grounds of Sardinella tawilis (Herre, 1927) by identifying the spatial and temporal distribution of its larvae. Fish larval samples were sorted from ichthyoplankton samples collected monthly in selected sampling stations in the lake. The morphologically identified Clupeidae larvae were determined to be S. tawilis genetically. They appeared only during March to May, with maximum abundance reaching from 700 to 1,700 ind 100m-3 during April 2015. Among the 10 water, 5 weather, and 11 biological parameters analyzed using Redundancy Analysis (RDA), temperature and other weather parameters largely influenced the temporal distribution of tawilis larvae. In terms of spatial distribution, the stations on the eastern bay of the lake showed an abundant and consistent presence of tawilis larvae for two years. Other stations which showed the presence of tawilis larvae include the southern portion of the lake, as well as in stations south to southwest area of Volcano Island. The seasonal and site-specific occurrence of tawilis larvae confirmed its spawning season and potential spawning grounds, which can serve as a scientific basis in the establishment of a Tawilis Reserve Area, as stipulated in the Unified Rules and Regulations for Fisheries in the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape Management Plan (TVPL-MP 2011).

Lake Taal is a source of livelihood and provides for more than 2,000 sustenance fisherfolk. Fish production of the open water fisheries has dwindled over the years with the continuous decline of fish catch, which can be attributed to unsustainable fishing practices such as illegal fishing, overfishing, pollution, and the expansion of aquaculture activities in the lake. Women, as a sector, constitute almost one half of the economically active population in Lake Taal. Men and women performed different roles at different stages of fish capture or fish culture. In terms of their economic and social value, the participation of women in pre- and post-production activities are significant. This study assessed the level of gender participation in the fisheries sector of Lake Taal. Specifically, it determined the roles of men and women in the different fishing activities and described the fisherfolk’s socioeconomic profile. A total of 407 randomly selected respondents were interviewed in 11 barangays from eight municipalities in Lake Taal, represented by 54% male and 46% female, consisting of 214 fishers, 76 fish vendors, four processors, 51 helpers, and 62 fish cage or fish pond owners, managers, and caretakers. Profiling of the socioeconomic status was done to assess families’ living conditions and constructed primary data based on household’s present roles, activities, responsibilities, access to and control over resources, problems, and constraints of men and women. The roles of both men and women in fisheries were categorized into three sectors: capture, post-harvest, and aquaculture.

The mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål 1775) is a high value, euryhaline marine fish with potential as a species for freshwater aquaculture. This study evaluated the growth and cost efficiency of the species in a freshwater pond in two experiments with three replications: (a) comparing stocking densities: (1) 0.5; (2) 1; and (3) 3 fish fish•m-2 reared for six months fed three times a day with trash fish to apparent satiation; and (b) comparing feed types: (1) trash fish; (2) moist diet; and (3) formulated dry pellet at a stocking density of 1 fish•m-2 fed to apparent satiation three times a day for seven months. The stocking density (SD) experiment showed significantly higher weight gain, absolute growth and specific growth rate (P<0.05) in 0.5 fish•m-2 SD (184.9 g; 1.04 g•day-1; 2.50%/day) than 3 fish•m-2 SD (172.7 g; 0.96 g•day-1; 2.38 %•day-1). No significant difference was detected between 0.5 fish•m-2 SD and 1 fish•m-2 nor between 1 fish•m-2 and 3 fish•m-2 (P>0.05). Survival rate (SR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not statistically different between treatments (P>0.05), which ranged from 78% to 92% and 5.0 to 5.9, respectively. Cost analysis showed high net returns for 1 and 3 fish•m-2 SD but low in 0.5 fish•m-2 SD. The feeding experiment study showed that feed types significantly affected weight gain, SGR, and SR (P<0.05). Snappers fed with trash fish attained significantly higher mean absolute growth (298.2 g) and SGR (1.81%/day) than those fed moist feeds (232.8 g and 1.61%/day, respectively) and formulated feeds (236.1 g and 1.51%/day, respectively). The survival rate was significantly higher in snappers fed trash fish (93.33%) and dry pellets (94.00%) than fed moist feeds (81.34%). FCR in trash fish, moist and dry pellet treatment was 6.4, 6.3, and 2.7, respectively. Cost analysis showed high net returns for trash fish and formulated pellet fed snappers but low in moist diet feed treatment. Cost-benefit analysis showed the feasibility of mangrove red snapper for freshwater aquaculture at a recommended stocking density of 1 to 3 fish•m-2 using trash fish, moist diet, or formulated dry pellet.

Maliputo (Caranx ignobilis) is a high-value food fish in the Philippines with limited studies on market potential. This value chain analysis study was conducted to understand the industry, to identify the key actors, supply and value chain, and to identify issues and concerns to support the development of C. ignobilis industry. A survey interview was conducted using purposive sampling in nine maliputo-producing regions with 224 respondents, and focus group discussion validated the analyzed data. Key chain actors identified are fishers, fish cage operators, fish buyers categorized as small-scale (local vendors and peddlers) and large-scale intermediaries (commission agents and wholesalers), and processors (restaurants and resorts). Annual production was 188,722 kg valued at PHP 33,752,859.79 with 58.12% coming from capture fisheries and 41.88% from aquaculture. Major producing regions for captured and cultured C. ignobilis are Regions 2 (Cagayan), 6 (Iloilo), and 3 (Central Luzon). The industry’s value chain map showed a gross value addition of PHP 116.58, 135.65, 75.04, 23.58, and 749.71 per kg maliputo for capture, aquaculture, small-scale fish buyer, large-scale fish buyer, and processors, respectively. Processors attained the highest net returns while fishers got the lowest. This study noted that C. ignobilis is a non-target species in capture fisheries resulting in an inconsistent supply of the fish. For aquaculture, there is a need to improve its culture technology, develop seed production technology, and formulate an artificial diet. Various upgrading strategies to improve the industry and to increase the benefits derived by the key actors had been identified and presented in the paper.