Author(s): Elmer B Alba, Marites B Chiuco, Marnelli C Rubia

Abstract: In the Philippines, fishing for naturally small-sized species is an open-access fishery and guidance for harvesting is still unavailable. The study was aimed to determine the suitable capture size and the appropriate mesh size for sustainable exploitation of anchovy Stolephorus spp. and white sardine Escualosa thoracata resources in Sorsogon Bay. By use of boat seine and stationary lift net, the study examined the efficiency of square mesh sizes employed (8, 12 and 16 mm). Population parameters on length at first maturity (Lm) and length at maximum possible yield (Lopt) for Stolephorus commersonii were calculated at 7.1 and 6.4 cm while for E. thoracata at 7.9 and 7.2 cm, respectively. Selectivity parameters were estimated following the methods of Jones (1976) to obtain probability retention lengths. The resulting selectivity of boat seine at 50% retention length (L50) for anchovy was estimated at 2.94, 5.0 and 5.96 cm for the mesh sizes of 8, 12 and 16 mm, respectively. Also, white sardine was estimated at 2.63, 3.77 and 7.16 cm for the mesh sizes of 8, 12 and 16 mm, respectively. By correlating the relationship of ideal size at first capture (Lopt) along with L50, 16 mm was determined as the corresponding best mesh size for sustainable fishing of relatively adult-sized anchovy and white sardine resources.

Pages: 265-273  |  1768 Views  404 Downloads

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