Inventory and Assessment of Marine Fishes in the Island Towns Of
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J.Bio.Innov 8(3), pp: 391-398, 2019 |ISSN 2277-8330 (Electronic) Galenzoga Inventory andCollege Assessment of Science, University of Marine of Eastern Philippines,Fishes in the Island Towns of Northern Samar, Philippines Divina Minguez-Galenzoga The Coral Triangle, which includes the Philippines, is the Abstract heartland of marine biodiversity. There is relatively poor The study aimed to identify the species documentation for most groups other than fishes and corals. Even with fishes, there is a scarcity of information from specific composition of marine fishes in the island locations within the Triangle [2]. towns of Northern Samar, Philippines; In the coastal areas reside about 59% of the country’s total determine their abundance and population and this is where about 70% of the 1,525 of the distribution; point out their local names; municipalities in the country, including 10 of the largest cities are located. This indicates how the lives of most Filipinos are and identify the fishing gears used by closely linked with the sea and its biodiversity [3]. fishermen. Sampling areas included the five Thus, this research study is pursued to add to the collective island towns of the province; i.e. Biri, Capul, data of information for marine fishes in island towns. Laoang, San Antonio, and San Vicente. for three years (2016 – 2018) during summer I. OBJECTIVES months. Data were gathered using The objectives of this study are: 1. To identify the species composition of marine fishes in the translated questionnaires. All fishes caught island towns of Northern Samar, Philippines; and sold were included in the study. 2. To determine the abundance and distribution of marine Fishermen and fish vendors were asked fishes; about their fishing gears used, local names 3. To point out the local names of marine fishes; of fishes, abundance and distribution. There 4. To identify the fishing gears used in catching fishes. were 197 species of fish belonging to 99 II. METHODOLOGY genera, 35 families, 3 sub-orders, 2 orders, 2 Northern Samar lies in the northeast portion of the island of sub-classes, and 2 classes. The most Samar, Philippines with longitudes of 12° 15’ - 12° 45’ and abundant in genera and species was latitudes of 124° 15’ - 125° 30’. It is one of the six provinces Asterropterex sp. (goby), of the Family comprising Region VIII (Eastern Visayas). The province Gobiidae; the second was Halichoeres consists of 24 municipalities, i.e. 15 coastal towns, 5 island towns, and 4 interior towns. Catarman is the capital town of the hoeveni (yellow-tailed wrasse), of the Family province of Northern Samar. Labridae; and the third was Caranx Sampling areas included the five island towns of the ignobilis (giant trevally), of the Family province; i.e. Biri, Capul, Laoang, San Antonio, and San Carangidae. There were more abundant Vicente during summer months for three years (2016 – 2018). The island town of Biri comprises eight barangays; 4 within fishes in the island town of Capul compared the main island and 4 island barangays. This island town serves to other island towns. The simple hook-and- as a tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists due to line was the commonly used fishing gear. its beautiful and enchanted rock formations. Marine fishes are caught by fishermen anytime of the day and during the night Keywords— island town, fishing gears, time. The island can be reached 1.5 hours by motorboat from the mainland on a fine weather. marine fishes, inventory The island town of Capul consists of 7 barangays, all within the main island. The island has many springs and rivers coming from the watershed of the high mountain, Mount Seber, located at the center of the island. Small and large caves, i.e. Beto caves, INTRODUCTION are also found in the island. Capul also serves as a tourist destination for its magnificent lighthouse (Parola) and ISHES are cold-blooded animals, typically with backbone, stone/rock Roman Catholic church, both constructed during the gills, fins, and lungs. Best estimates from 15,000 to 17,000 F Spanish regime, giant foot rock mold found below the cliffs of recent species. There are many kinds of fishes and they come in lighthouse, pristine marine waters, white sandy beaches and a different colors, shapes, and sizes [1]. J.Bio.Innov 8(3), pp: 391-398, 2019 |ISSN 2277-8330 (Electronic) Galenzoga towering coralline (called coral tower) formation east of the 2. Family Apogonidae Caesio sp. island. Capul has a unique dialect, called Abaknon (Capuleno) Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Pterocaesio diagramma Bleeker distinct with other Samarnon dialects. Similar with Biri island, Cuvier Pterocaesio sp. fishermen would catch fishes anytime of the day. The island can Cheilodipterus sp. Elegatis bipinnulata Apogon wassinki Bleeker Elegatis sp. be reached 1.5 hours by motorboat from the mainland on a fine Apogon sp. 7. Family Chaetodontidae weather. 3. Family Anabantidae Chaetodon baronessa Cuvier The island town of Laoang consists of 12 barangays; 6 within Anabas testudinaeus Chaetodon lunulatus Quoy & the main island, 3 coastal barangays and 3 island barangays. Anabas sp. Gaimard The island is facing the Pacific Ocean on the east side. Merchant 4. Family Balistidae Chaetodon sp. Sufflamen chrysopterum Bloch & Coradion chrysozonus Cuvier ships coming from Manila carry merchandise for a good Scheider Coradion sp. business enterprise in the island. Laoang is a self-contained Rhinecanthus aculeatus Chelmon rostratus Linnaeus island town due to its high standard of living and has a thriving Rhinecanthus rectangulus Chelmon sp business and religious community. It is also a pilgrimage site for its miraculous Our Lady of Salvation, a chapel found in 8. Family Carangidae 16. Hemiramphidae Batag island. The island town can be reached 15 minutes by Atule mate Cuvier Hyphorhampus quoyi motorboat from the mainland on a fine weather. Alepes vari Cuvier Valenciennes The island town of San Antonio consists of 6 barangays Caranx ignobilis Forsskal 17. Family Labriidae within the mainland. The island is also a tourist destination due Decapterus maruadsi Cheilinus fasciatus Bloch to its fine sandy beaches; miraculous patron saint, San Antonio; Decapterus macarellus Choerodon anchorago Bloch and variety of larger marine fishes caught by fishermen. San Decapterus sp. Coris batuensis Bleeker Selaroides leptolepis Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis Antonio has also a unique cultural advantage since the island Megalaspis cordyla Cirrhilabrus scottorum people can speak both Visayan and Samarnon dialects. The Gymnothorax javanicus Halichoeres melanochir island town is near Cebu, the center of Cebuano-speaking Gymnothorax favagineus Halachoeres claudia Filipinos. The island can be reached 30 minutes by motorboat Megalaspis sp. Oycheilinus diagramma from the mainland on a fine weather. Selar boops Cheilinus undulatus Selar crumenopthalmus Stethojulis interrupta Bleeker The island town of San Vicente consists of 8 barangays, 5 9. Family Carcharinidae Anampses chrysocephalus within the main island and 3 island barangays. The island is a Carcarinus melanopterus Bodianus axillaris famous tourist destination for its Pink Beach, i.e. island with Sphyrna lewini Epibulus insidiator pink-colored beach sand. The island people speak Visayan and 10. Family Coryphaenidae Bodianus bimaculatus Samarnon dialects as well. Part of the island is devoted to pearl Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus 18. Family Leiognathidae culture farming due to the pristine marine environment. Like Coryphaena sp. Leiognathus equulus Forsskal 11. Family Clupeidae Leiognathus sp. the other island barangays, fishermen catch fishes anytime of Sardinella lemuru Gazza minuta Bloch the day. The island town can be reached 2 hours by motorboat Sardinella fimbriata Gazza sp. from the mainland on a fine weather. Sardinella albella 19. Family Lethrinidae Data were gathered using translated questionnaires. Sardinella hualiensis Lethrinus erythropterus Fishermen and fish vendors were asked about fishing gears Sardinella longiceps Lethrinus laticaudis Sardinella gibbosa Bleeker Lethrinus obsoletus used, local names of fishes, abundance and distribution of Amblygaster sirm Lethrinus nebulosus fishes. Escualosa thoracata 20. Family Lutjanidae Herklotsichthys dispilonotus Lutjanus decussatus Cuvier IV.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus Lutjanus lutjanus Bloch Dussumieria acuta Lutjanus fulviflamma Forsskal A. Species Composition of Marine Fishes Stolephores indicus Lutjanus sebae 12. Family Engraulidae Lutjanus russelli There were 197 species of fish belonging to 99 genera, 35 Engraulida sp. Lutjanus argentinaculatus families, namely: 2 orders, namely: Beryciformes and 13. Family Ephippidae 21. Family Muraenidae Perciformes; 2 sub-classes, namely: Elasmobranchii and Platax pinnatus Linnaeus Gymnothorax nubilus Actinopterygii; and 2 classes, namely: Chondricthyes and Platax sp. Gymnothorax moringa Osteichthyes, as shown in Table 1. 14. Family Gerridae Gymnothorax favagineus Gerres macracanthus Blecker Centropyge vroliki Bleeker Gerres shima Iwatsuki, Kimura Gnathanodon sp. TABLE I Gerres sp. 22. Family Mullidae SPECIES COMPOSITION OF MARINE FISHES IN ISLAND TOWNS Mugil cephalus Linnaeus Parupeneus barberinus Lacepede 1. Family Acanthuridae 5. Family Blenniidae Mugil sp. Parupeneus multifasciatus Ctenochaetus binotatus Randall Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos 15. Family Gobiidae Parupeneus brbarinoides Bleeker Ctenochaetus sp. Bleeker Amblygobius decussatus Bleeker Parupeneus cyclostomus Zebrasoma scopas