Catch composition and catch per unit effort of filter net fishery in Jordan, Guimaras, central Philippines: Its implication for management

Abstract

In Jordan, Guimaras, central Philippines, the use of filter net is prevalent. This fishing gear uses fine-mesh netting to capture small organisms such as anchovies and small shrimps of the genus Acetes. However, the use of fine-mesh nets sparked issues on conservation and overfishing. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the catch per unit effort and catch composition of filter nets in Jordan, Guimaras during the summer season of 2016. The total length of the gear was 23–40 m with a mouth opening of 11 m × 11 m. The cod end had the smallest mesh size (3 mm) and was provided with a non-return valve. It was set by 1–3 persons during periods of strong current. Results showed that the amount of catch increased with the increase in current speed with a correlation value of 0.62. CPUE for the sampling period ranged from 21 to 25 kg per operation. Furthermore, the amount of catch was more than 90% juvenile and fish larvae. Based on the responses of filter net owners, the months of February to May were considered lean season due to insufficient amount of catch while the peak season occurs during the months of September to January when the catch of anchovy and Acetes were abundant. Clearly, the use of this gear showed some ecological implications due to the catch of juvenile and fish larvae. However, fishers benefit from adult fish as well as both juvenile organisms and fish larvae and both national and local polices currently do not define the allowable percentage of these organisms from the total catch in order to be considered ecologically sensible. Aside from providing baseline data, these results are essential in amending existing policies or formulating new ordinances that could help in regulating the use of filter net in Jordan, Guimaras.