Destructive collection methods that include cyanide and overturning coral heads for both the live
reef fish food trade and ornamental fishes indirectly affects fish populations through habitat degradation Increased use of cyanide beginning in the 1970’s also presumably caused declines in landings of reef fisheries in the VR, particularly in the Cebu area Another indication
that the VR suffers from unusually high habitat degradation is from the high percentage of transects that record the grouper Cephalopholis boenak (Table 3) which is a species particularly adapted to disturbed coral reefs Both destructive (i.e. blast fishing) and normal
fishing patterns across the Philippines clearly indicate that the VR experiences the most intense exploitation levels in the country. The significantly lower species richness both for target and non-target species in this region (Fig. 4) further suggests reef degradation. Reef
fishes are closely associated with their habitat and an altered habitat will reflect changes in the fish assemblages The fact that historical patterns
indicate the VR should have the highest species
richness (Fig. 1) and that a large percentage of