of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

chapter 2 • human well-being and climate change: results and discussion
iii. Aquarium fisheries
Aquarium fishing is prevalent in Verde Island (under the
jurisdiction of Batangas City) Lubang, Looc, and Paluan
and all of Occidental Mindoro. Studies on the aquarium
trade indicate that aquarium fishing is also practiced in
Lian and Calatagan (Figure 44).
(use hands or hand-based tools) divers or those who
do not use any air-supplying device. Dives may last
from 8 am until 2 pm every day until enough fish are
assembled, i.e., about 500 to 1000 assorted tropical
fish, after which the catch is brought to Tabangao en
route to Manila. A comparison of average monthly
incomes of: a) mano mano fisher; b) hookah collector
(including crew), and c) trader indicate that the mano
mano fisher earns an average of P4,600 per month
compared to the hookah collector who earns P5,100.
The trader earns the highest at P7,800 per month
(MAC Report).
Despite the relatively low average monthly incomes,
the income of mano mano fishers may be as high as
P12,000 in some months, and hookah fishers as high
as P19,000, presumably when catches are high and
when the expensive species are caught.
Fig. 44. Roving collection routes in the Verde Island Passage
corridor.
A feature article that chronicles the lives and practices
of aquarium fishers of Barangay San Andres in Verde
Island has anecdotal details that indicate vulnerable
marine resources and human communities in the
passage (Lesaba 2009). In that community, 90% of the
population (about 1200 people) is engaged in diving
for tropical fish or aquaculture. They go to areas with
good reefs and catch species such as yellow wrasse,
sexline wrasse, longnose pupper, white fin lion, spot fin
anthias. Occasionally, they catch “Majestic” which are
priced at P800 to P1000 apiece. It is more of a way
of life for the people of Barangay San Andres so they
have to continuously adapt to local regulations and find
some enterprising “sponsors” in other municipalities/
provinces.
Ironically, the practice is banned not only in Verde Island
but also in the barangay which breeds aquarium fishers
and this is the reason why the practice is exported
to places such as Lubang and Looc in Occidental
Mindoro (Figure 44). Conservation International has
also commissioned the Marine Aquarium Council
(MAC) and Reefcheck to investigate sustainability
options for roving aquarium fishers in the Verde Island
Passage.
The collection practice itself is dependent on good
weather, especially for those who are “mano mano”
Early analyses of the effects of El Niño on tuna fisheries
in the Philippines point to minimal or no impacts on
overall production. Barut (1999) argues that Philippine
waters approximate that of the Western Tropical Pacific
(WTP) where no warm water intrusion is bound to
occur and even if it does, tuna is known to thermoregulate.
Further observations of U.S. tuna fleets
support the claim that no change in production is
expected in the WTP waters. Meanwhile, the Australian
Bluefin Association observed an increase in tuna
production, and an increase in small pelagics, especially
in areas where upwelling occurs.
Recent climate change studies depict more of a
downtrend in production and a shift in abundance
at higher latitudes (Aaheim and Sygna 2000) and
modeled changes for skipjack (Pratchett et al. 2008).
Increased water temperature is forecast to result in
changes to the distribution and abundance of tuna
towards the Central Pacific and away from the Coral
Triangle area. Moreover the impacts of increasing water
temperature on habitats and incidence of storms and
acidification threaten coastal habitats such as coral
reefs. Lehodey (2000) agrees with the shift in spatial
distribution and decline in abundance of fisheries,
especially in the Pacific, but recognizes that some
countries may in fact gain from this anticipated change.
iv. Small pelagics fisheries
The importance of the small pelagic fisheries sector in
Verde Island Passage can be gleaned from production
statistics. Annual average production of small pelagics
(sardines, anchovies, round scads, and mackerels) total
more than 30, 000 MT. In Batangas province, more than
70% of catch is small pelagics and in the two Mindoro
provinces, more than 60% of catch is small pelagics.
Both commercial and municipal fishers exploit the small
pelagics fisheries.
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