Efficiency of Different Traps and Baits for Catching Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium Spp. for Broodstock Development

Abstract

Catching of wild freshwater prawns in Palawan is done by using different fishing gears, including baited traps. However, there are only limited studies related to the efficiency of these traps on catching freshwater prawns. In this study, the efficiency of four different traps (traditional plastic traps, bamboo traps, modified traps, and rattan traps) and three baits (low-valued fish, grilled coconut, and octopus) was tested in catching live Macrobrachium spp. from the rivers of two localities in the Barangay Bagongbayan, Roxas and Sitio Catama, Dumaran, Palawan at two sampling events with 12-hr intervals along the river bank. Each trap was deployed randomly 5-8 meters apart in the collection site late afternoon and retrieved the following day. The highest catch was obtained using plastic traps with low-value fish as bait. All samples from the different traps were collected alive. Modifications are underway to improve the design of these traps to improve catch efficiency. Regulating the collection of Macrobrachium from the wild by developing it into broodstocks will support the sustainable aquaculture industry using hatchery-produced seedstocks instead of sourcing it from the wild.