Ms. Sheryll Mesa, BFAR - NSAP 6 Project Leader presented their study entitled “𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘉𝘚𝘊: 𝘌𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘔𝘈 11”. The study highlighted the current status of the blue swimming crab (𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴) fishery in the Visayan Sea which was rated as “Avoid” by the Monteray Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program of the United States of America which is the major export destination of the blue swimming crab products from the country.

In their study, Ms. Mesa showed scientific evidence through reference points that the condition of the blue swimming crab resource in the Visayan Sea could be in danger of getting closer to “overfishing state” if harvest control measures are not implemented. This study is also co-authored by Diana M. Dela Cruz, Mhar Jo F. Mondana, Rhealyn A. Bartolome, Bruna T. Abrenica of BFAR NSAP Region 7 and Noemi SB Lanzuela of BFAR NSAP Region 5. 

The same team, with Ms. Bartolome as presenting author, also presented their poster entitled “𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘢 (𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘳, 1849) 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢: 𝘈 𝘊𝘔𝘚𝘠 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 The study determined the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels for the catch, biomass, and fishing using catch at MSY (CMSY) as a basis for fisheries policies implementation and decision making for proper sardines resource management. 

With studies such as these two, we hope to have a science-based and more effective management of our fisheries resources in Western Visayas and the country as a whole.