Acta Nat. Sci.   |  e-ISSN: 2718-0638
Acta Natura et Scientia
Acta Nat. Sci.

Review article | Acta Natura et Scientia 2022, Vol. 3(2) 116-125

An Overview of Destructive Fishing in the Philippines

Albaris Tahiluddin & Jurmi̇n Sarri̇

pp. 116 - 125   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/actanatsci.2022.352.04   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2207-24-0003.R1

Published online: September 21, 2022  |   Number of Views: 647  |  Number of Download: 681

Save PDF

Abstract

The Philippines, being positioned in the center of the coral triangle, is among the major-fish producing countries globally. However, in many parts of the country, illegal fishing is rampant, particularly destructive fishing practices (DFPs). Fisheries involving DFPs cause direct ecological damage to the corals. These fishing activities threaten both natural habitats and aquatic resources. In this review paper, we reviewed available scientific literature reporting the DFPs in the Philippines from 1979 to 2022. Results revealed that most DFPs, such as dynamite fishing, cyanide fishing, and muro-ami fishing, were prevalent and remained a lingering problem in the Philippines from the 1930s up to this date. The weak enforcement of the existing laws and regulations fuels these activities, compromising the productive coral reef areas in the Philippines. Thus, it is urgently necessary to cease these DFPs as well as protect the integrity of vital and fragile ecosystems. It is therefore recommended that strict implementation of the laws and regulations at local and national levels is likely to stop or if not least, reduce the pressing issues of destructive fishing techniques. 

Keywords: Cyanide fishing, Destructive fishing, Dynamite fishing, Muro-ami fishing, Philippines

How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Tahiluddin, A. & Sarri̇, J. (2022). An Overview of Destructive Fishing in the Philippines . Acta Natura et Scientia, 3(2), 116-125. doi: 10.29329/actanatsci.2022.352.04

Harvard
Tahiluddin, A. and Sarri̇, J. (2022). An Overview of Destructive Fishing in the Philippines . Acta Natura et Scientia, 3(2), pp. 116-125.

Chicago 16th edition
Tahiluddin, Albaris and Jurmi̇n Sarri̇ (2022). "An Overview of Destructive Fishing in the Philippines ". Acta Natura et Scientia 3 (2):116-125. doi:10.29329/actanatsci.2022.352.04.
References
  1. Alcala, A. C. (2000, January). Blast fishing in the Philippines, with notes on two destructive fishing activities. In Workshop on the Status of Philippine Coral Reefs, UPMSI. [Google Scholar]
  2. Alcala, A. C., & Gomez, E. D. (1979). Recolonization and growth of hermatypic corals in dynamite-blasted coral reefs in the Central Visayas, Philippines. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biogeography and Evolution in the Southern Hemisphere, Auckland, NZ, (Vol. 2, pp. 645-661). [Google Scholar]
  3. Allen, G. R., & Werner, T. B. (2002). Coral reef fish assessment in the ‘coral triangle’ of southeastern Asia. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 65(2), 209-214. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020093012502 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  4. Alvarico, A. B., Cuevas-Ruíz, J. L., & Dinsay, J. B. (2021). Illegal fishing: In the eyes of Filipino fishermen. Mediterranean Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 5(1), 104-111. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3814424 [Google Scholar]
  5. Anonymous. (1985). Traditional muro-ami: an effective but destructive coral reef fishing gear. ICLARM Newsletter, 8(1), 12-13. [Google Scholar]
  6. Arias, A., & Pressey, R. L. (2016). Combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing with information: A case of probable illegal fishing in the tropical eastern pacific. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  7. Barber, C. V., & Pratt, V. R. (1997). Policy reform and community-based programmes to combat cyanide fishing in Philippines. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin, 8, 26-35. [Google Scholar]
  8. Barber, C. V., & Pratt, V. R. (1998). Policy reform and community-based programmes to combat cyanide fishing in Philippines. In: Tabor, S. R. & Faber, D. C. (Eds). Closing the loop: From research on natural resources to policy change (pp. 114–119). Policy Management Report No. 8. Maastricht, The Netherlands: European Centre for Development Policy. [Google Scholar]
  9. Baticados, D. B. (2004). Fishing cooperatives’ participation in managing nearshore resources: the case in Capiz, central Philippines. Fisheries Research, 67(1), 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2003.07.005 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  10. BFAR. (2019). Philippine fisheries profile 2018. PCA Compound, Elliptical Road, Quezon City Philippines. [Google Scholar]
  11. Bigot, L., Charpy, L., Maharavo, J., Rabi, F. A., Paupiah, N., Aumeeruddy, R., Villedieu, C., & Lieutaud, A. (2000). Status of coral reefs of the southern Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean Commission node for Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles. Status of Coral Reefs of the World, 77-94. [Google Scholar]
  12. Brewer, T. D. (2013). Dominant discourses, among fishers and middlemen, of the factors affecting coral reef fish distributions in Solomon Islands. Marine Policy, 37, 245-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.05.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  13. Carpenter, K. E., & Springer, V. G. (2005). The center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 72 (4), 467-480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-3154-4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  14. Chevallier, R. (2017). Safeguarding Tanzania’s Coral Reefs: The Case of Illegal Blast Fishing. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29517 [Google Scholar]
  15. Chou, L. M. (2000). Southeast Asian Reefs-Status update: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Status of Coral Reefs of the World, 117-129. [Google Scholar]
  16. Cudia, P. B. K. R., & Romero, M. L. J. (2022). Potentiometry for cyanide detection applied to fisheries regulation. The Philippine Journal of Fisheries, 29(1), In press. https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf/29.1.2021-0015 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  17. Dalabajan, D. (2005). Fixing the broken net: Improving enforcement of laws regulating cyanide fishing in the Calamianes Group of Islands, Philippines. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin, 15, 3-12. [Google Scholar]
  18. Dalzell, P., & Ganaden, R. (1987). The overfishing of small pelagic fish stocks in the Philippines. RAPA Rep, 10, 249-256. [Google Scholar]
  19. Erdmann, M., Pet-Soede, C., & Cabanban, A. (2000). Destructive fishing practices. In Proceedings of the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, Indonesia. [Google Scholar]
  20. FAO. (2022). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022. Towards Blue Transformation. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0461en [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  21. Fox, H. E., Pet, J. S., Dahuri, R., & Caldwell, R. L. (2003). Recovery in rubble fields: long-term impacts of blast fishing. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46(8), 1024-1031. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00246-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  22. Froese, R., & Pauly, D. (2022). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org (02/2022) [Google Scholar]
  23. Gomez, E. D., Alino, P. M., Yap, H. T., & Licuanan, W. Y. (1994). A review of the status of Philippine reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 29(1-3), 62-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(94)90427-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  24. Graham, J., & Traylor, J. (2022). Cyanide toxicity. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. [Google Scholar]
  25. Halford, A., Cheal, A. J., Ryan, D., & Williams, D. M. (2004). Resilience to large‐scale disturbance in coral and fish assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef. Ecology, 85(7), 1892-1905. https://doi.org/10.1890/03-4017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  26. Hampton-Smith, M., Bower, D. S., & Mika, S. (2021). A review of the current global status of blast fishing: Causes, implications, and solutions. Biological Conservation, 262, 109307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109307 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  27. Katikiro, R. E., & Mahenge, J. J. (2016). Fishers’ Perceptions of the Recurrence of Dynamite-Fishing Practices on the Coast of Tanzania. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3, 233. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00233 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  28. Lauraya, F. L. P. M., Dullesco, N. W., & Candelaria, A. P. (2010). Current State of Marine Fishery Resource-Related Ordinances in Selected Marine Protected Areas in Bicol Region, Philippines. Asian Rural Sociology IV, 45. [Google Scholar]
  29. Lewis, A. R. (1997). Effects of experimental coral disturbance on the structure of fish communities on large patch reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 161, 37-50. [Google Scholar]
  30. Madeira, D., Andrade, J., Leal, M. C., Ferreira, V., Rocha, R. J., Rosa, R., & Calado, R. (2020). Synergistic effects of ocean warming and cyanide poisoning in an ornamental tropical reef fish. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 246. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00246 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  31. Magdaong, E. T., Yamano, H., Fujii, M. (2014). Development of a large-scale, long-term coral cover and disturbance database in the Philippines. In: Nakano, S., Yahara, T., & Nakashizuka, T. (Eds), Integrative Observations and Assessments. Ecological Research Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54783-9_5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  32. McManus, J. W., Reyes, J. R., Rodolfo, B., Nañola, J., & Cleto, L. (1997). Effects of some destructive fishing methods on coral cover and potential rates of recovery. Environmental Management, 21(1), 69-78. [Google Scholar]
  33. Miclat, R. I., Aliño, P. M., Aragones, N., Nañola Jr, C., & Aguilar, E. (1991). Pa-aling: an alternative to muro-ami. Philippine Journal of Fisheries, 22, 29-38. [Google Scholar]
  34. Mohammad, H. S., Ebbah, J. E., Sahiyal, K. M., & Tahiluddin, A. B. (2022). An assessment of small-scale fisheries in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines. Menba Kastamonu Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 8(1), 10-22. [Google Scholar]
  35. Muallil, R. N., Mamauag, S. S., Cababaro, J. T., Arceo, H. O., & Aliño, P. M. (2014). Catch trends in Philippine small-scale fisheries over the last five decades: The fishers׳ perspectives. Marine Policy, 47, 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.02.008  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  36. Naughton, J. (1985). Blast fishing in the Pacific. South Pacific Commission Fisheries Newsletter, 33, 16-20. [Google Scholar]
  37. Olofson, H. (2014). Children in Muro-Ami Fishing. In The World of Child Labor (pp. 926-928). Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  38. Olofson, H., & Tiukinhoy, A. (1992). “Plain Soldiers”: Muro-Ami Fishing in Cebu. Philippine Studies, 40(1), 35-52. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42633292 [Google Scholar]
  39. Pablo, F., Stauber, J. L., & Buckney, R. T. (1997). Toxicity of cyanide and cyanide complexes to the marine diatom Nitzschia closterium. Water Research, 31(10), 2435-2442. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00094-8  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  40. Pacini, A. F., Nachtigall, P. E., Smith, A. B., Suarez, L. J., Magno, C., Laule, G. E., Aragones, L. V., & Braun, R. (2016, July). Evidence of hearing loss due to dynamite fishing in two species of odontocetes. In Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics 4ENAL (Vol. 27, No. 1, p. 010043). Acoustical Society of America. https://doi.org/10.1121/2.0000393 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  41. Pala, A., Zhang, J., Zhuang, J., & Allen, N. (2018). Behavior analysis of illegal fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 15(1), https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2016-0017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  42. Pastoral, P., & Ramiscal, R. (1997). Status of Fishing Conditions in the Philippines in Relation to Responsible Fishing. In Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Responsible Fishing, Bangkok, Thailand, 24-27 June 1997 (pp. 119-124). Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12067/748 [Google Scholar]
  43. Pet-Soede, L., & Erdmann, M. (1998a). An overview and comparison of destructive fishing practices in Indonesia. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin, 4, 28-36. [Google Scholar]
  44. Pet-Soede, L., & Erdmann, M. V. (1998b). Blast fishing in southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia. Naga, The ICLARM Quarterly, 21(2), 4–9. [Google Scholar]
  45. PSA. (2021). Fisheries statistics of the Philippines 2018-2020. PSA CVEA Building, East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, Philippines. [Google Scholar]
  46. Purcell, S. W., Mercier, A., Conand, C., Hamel, J. F., Toral‐Granda, M. V., Lovatelli, A., & Uthicke, S. (2013). Sea cucumber fisheries: global analysis of stocks, management measures and drivers of overfishing. Fish and Fisheries, 14(1), 34-59. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00443.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  47. Quiazon, K. M. A., Santos, M. D., & Yoshinaga, T. (2013). Anisakis species (Nematoda: Anisakidae) of Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima (Owen, 1866) stranded off the Pacific coast of southern Philippine archipelago. Veterinary Parasitology, 197 (1-2), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.05.019 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  48. Raymundo, L. J., Maypa, A. P., Gomez, E. D., & Cadiz, P. (2007). Can dynamite-blasted reefs recover? A novel, low-tech approach to stimulating natural recovery in fish and coral populations. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(7), 1009-1019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.02.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  49. Riegl, B., & Luke, K. E. (1999). Ecological parameters of dynamited reefs in the Northern Red Sea and their relevance to reef rehabilitation. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 37(8-12), 488-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(99)00104-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  50. Rubec, P. J. (1986). The effects of sodium cyanide on coral reefs and marine fish in the Philippines. In The First Asian Fisheries Forum (Vol. 1, pp. 297-302). Manila, Philippines: Asian Fisheries Society. [Google Scholar]
  51. Rubec, P. J. (1988). The need for conservation and management of Philippine coral reefs. In: McAllister, D. E., & Kott, E. (Eds), On lampreys and fishes. Developments in environmental biology of fishes, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3115-2_13 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  52. Rubec, P. J., & Soundararajan, R. (1990, November). Chronic toxic effects of cyanide on tropical marine fish. In Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Toxicity Workshop: November (pp. 5-7). [Google Scholar]
  53. Saeger, J. (1993). The Samar Sea, Philippines: A decade of devastation. http://hdl.handle.net/1834/26086 [Google Scholar]
  54. Sulu, R., Cumming R., Wantiez L., Kumar L., Mulipola A., Lober M., Sauni S., Poulasi T., & Pokoa K. (2002). Status of coral reefs in the southwest pacific to 2002: Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Status of Coral Reefs of the World, 181-201. [Google Scholar]
  55. Tahiluddin, A., & Terzi, E. (2021). An overview of fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 6(4), 475-486. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.944292 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  56. Thomas, F. (1985). Research on the effects of ’payaos’ on ’baclads’ in the Zamboanga-Basilan areas [Philippines]. [Google Scholar]
  57. Veloria, A. I., Hernandez, D. T., Tapang, G. A., & Aragones, L. V. (2021). Characterization of open water explosions from confiscated explosives in the Philippines–Possible implications to local marine mammals. Science Diliman, 33(1), 5-21. [Google Scholar]
  58. Veron, J. E. N. (1995). Corals in space and time: the biogeography and evolution of the Scleractinia. Cornell University Press. [Google Scholar]
  59. Wells, S. (2009). Dynamite fishing in northern Tanzania–pervasive, problematic and yet preventable. Marine Pollution Bulletin 58(1), 20-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.09.019 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  60. Werorilangi, S., Yusuf, S., Massinai, A., Niartiningsih, A., Tahir, A., Nimzet, R., Afdal, M., Karimah, A. Z., & Umar, W. (2019, April). Acute toxicity of cyanide (KCN) on two types of marine larvae: Acropora sp. planulae and D-veliger larvae of Tridacna squamosa. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 253, No. 1, p. 012040). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/253/1/012040 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  61. White, A. T., & Wells, S. M. (1982). Coral reefs in the Philippines. Oryx, 16(5), 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300018123 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  62. Willer, D. F., Brian, J. I., Derrick, C. J., Hicks, M., Pacay, A., McCarthy, A. H., Benbow, S., Brooks, H., Hazin, C., Mukherjee, N., McOwen, C. J., Walker, J., & Steadman, D. (2022). ‘Destructive fishing’—A ubiquitously used but vague term? Usage and impacts across academic research, media and policy. Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12668 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  63. Yap, H. T., & Gomez, E. D. (1985). Coral reef degradation and pollution in the East Asian Seas Region. Environment and Resources in the Pacific, 69, 185-207. [Google Scholar]
Download
Metric
History
Related

Volume 3 Issue 2

December 2022

All Articles

Acta Natura et Scientia

Acta Nat. Sci..
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License.
Privacy policy     |     Terms of Use     |     Use of Cookies
Creative Commons Lisansı
© 2012 - 2024 - THDSoft e-Journal Management System.