Publication
Abstract: Fishery resources play a vital role in ensuring food security and nutrition while contributing to economic growth through fish production and trade. This study aimed to determine the diversity of marine fishes caught by various fishing gears in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. A quantitative research design was utilized, providing numerical data on the diversity, abundance, and catch per unit effort of marine fishes. Data gathering was conducted in the five coastal barangays of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, from January to March 2025. Mean, ANOVA, and Games-Howell tests were employed to determine the average abundance, test for significant differences in CPUE, and compare fishing gears, respectively. Simple handlines, bottom-set longlines, gillnets, and pamo gillnets are commonly used fishing gears. The various fishing gears caught a total of 60 species. Pamo gill net yielded the highest abundance (279,497), while the bottom-set longline was the lowest (541). Species diversity was low in bottom-set longlines (2.24) and gillnets (2.33), while very low in simple handlines (1.04) and pamo gillnets (0.58). The low species diversity across gears suggests potential ecological pressure influenced by seasonality, fishing intensity, and gear selectivity. The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of the various fishing gears significantly differed. These findings provide baseline, gear-specific data that can inform municipal fisheries management and sustainable gear regulation in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. The study recommends guiding fisherfolk on the sustainable use of fishing gear, conducting continuous monitoring to track changes in fish diversity, regulating fishing to reduce ecological impact, and developing sustainable fishing strategies.
Keywords: Catch per unit effort, species richness, abundance, evenness
Abstract: The seaweed Kawkawayan (Gracilaria sp.), marketed as a food product in the Ilocos Region, has the potential for high profitability due to its growing demand across various industries. The research, conducted in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, used the raft culture method to assess growth by measuring average weight every 15 days and analyzing its relationship with seawater parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, salinity, water current, conductivity, water temperature, and total dissolved solids). The data were analyzed using a descriptive correlation design, employing the Mean and Pearson Product Moment of Correlation. A 3.5 X 5 m raft with six monolines containing 23 seedlings was installed in the culture site. The results indicated that pH, conductivity, TDS, and turbidity were within the normal range, whereas temperature, salinity, DO, and water current were above the average. Gracilaria's weight increased consistently every 15 days, reaching a peak of 22.99 on the 105th day. However, there was no significant correlation between the weight gain and the measured seawater parameters. The fluctuations in Gracilaria’s weight were linked to thallus breakdown caused by vigorous water movements. The study’s findings should be made available to fisherfolks in the coastal community who cultivate Gracilaria; optimal cultivation of this seaweed can be obtained when disturbances are minimal, particularly from February to May, thus boosting aquaculture productivity. Alternative cultivation methods like tubular nets and cage systems, along with valuable seaweed species, are recommended. Fisherfolks’ participation is crucial for their success and the future of seaweed farming and marine resource conservation.
Keywords: Gracilaria sp;raft culture method;water parameters;growth increment
On-going
- Development of Gracilaria Enhanced Chips (2024), SDG 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 14 – (AMRRDC-24-5)
- Species Diversity and Composition of Mangroves in Ilocos Sur (2022), SDG 13, 14, 15 – (AFNR-22-23-c11)
- Development of Gracilaria-Enhanced Kimchi (2025), SDG 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 14 – (AMRRDC-25-2)
- Women in the Codium Industry: A Comparative Analysis of their Roles, Challenges, and Contributions (2025), SDG 5, 8, 10, 14 – (AMRRDC-25-1)