Introduction
Fishing is the largest extractive use of wildlife in the
world with demand exceeding the supply. This system of
resource extraction is expected to continue in the coming
years as the human population increases in the next ten
years. In Bicol, Sorsogon Bay (SB) and San Miguel
Bay (SMB) are important fishing grounds for small
pelagic, demersal fishes and shellfish. Marine crabs such
as the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) and the
Christian crab (Charybdis feriatus) have been abundantly
harvested in the area. Live trade for high valued species
including grouper, wrasses, crustaceans, and lobster are
common in SMB and SB because of the booming export
market which provided significant economic incentive
among fishers. Unfortunately, very little work has been
carried out in regard to management of wild populations.
Given the unregulated resource extraction coupled with the alarming impacts of climate change, the future of
these species is extremely threatened.
Considering its contribution to the economy and
the livelihood and income of those who depend on its
fisheries, it is imperative that research efforts towards the
development of resource management be given utmost
attention in order to sustain an appropriate number of
parent stock to maintain populations of valued marine
species. An assessment of the resources is therefore
necessary to determine its present status and formulate
doable management and enhancement strategies for
future long-term use.
The present research work is designed to assess the
status of commercially important marine crab fisheries
in SB and SMB. Specifically, it seeks to do the following:
determine commercially important species of
marine crabs; estimate the growth, mortality parameters
and exploitation rate; determine fishing gears exploiting the species and their catch rate; estimate the annual production
and describe the marketing system. Research
output derived from the local research was presented to
the concerned local government unit (LGU’s) and the
fishers’ group as input for the development of sustainable
management plans for the crab fishery. Without proactive
moves to manage our resources, the chance of a collapse
in the wild crab population is not far from reality.
Acting now to save important species is therefore an
urgent need.