Introduction of fish species in major lakes poses a significant threat to freshwater biodiversity. Early detection and risk screening of non-indigenous species (NIS) in lakes can help minimize their ecological and economic impacts. In this study, risk assessment of 55 introduced fish species were conducted for Laguna de Bay, Lake Mainit, Lake Naujan, Lake Buhi and Lake Paoay to determine the level of risks associated with introduced horizon fish species in each lake. The risk screening procedure was conducted using the methodology for Aquatic Species Invasive Screening Kit (AS-ISK) through a risk assessment workshop, participated and assessed by the key stakeholders for each lake. The levels of risk (high, medium and low) for each species in each lake were then determined based on the computation of risk outcome from AS-ISK scores considering the threshold set and the a priori categorization. Based on the assessment, almost all of the horizon species assessed are bound to possess either medium or high risk of invasiveness in each lake.

Lobster aquaculture in the Philippines is an emerging industry with significant economic potential, particularly for small-scale coastal communities. However, lobster farming remains a niche and technically challenging sector within the aquaculture industry compared with other crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs. Many lobster species are dominant in some areas of the Philippines, particularly in Surigao, Zamboanga, and Davao Oriental, but cost-effective hatchery and nursery technologies are largely lacking. Most spiny lobster production comes from the wild fishery, with aquaculture accounting for only a small share of the total production. This study explores the feasibility of nursery culture in 1 m x 1 m x 1 m marine floating cages at Panabo Mariculture Park in Davao del Norte. Two stocking densities were tested – 80 and 130 individuals per m³, and the growth and survival of juvenile lobsters were assessed after 120 days of culture.

The sustainability of Sardinella tawilis capture fisheries in Lake Taal, Philippines, is of paramount importance, given its ecological and economic significance. Our study investigates the long-term dynamics of tawilis production using publicly available data, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of long-term patterns for the drafting of conservation and management strategies for the endemic tawilis. Analyzing a 22-year dataset, we observed declining trends in yearly production, accompanied by consistent quarterly fluctuations. Surprisingly, while quarterly volume production patterns remained uniform, tawilis price per kilo showed distinct within-year quarterly variations. Despite limitations in data resolution, correlation analyses highlighted the impact of production on prices and emphasized the significance of the annual two-month fishing moratorium.

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) has positively impacted reef fish diversity, abundance, and biomass and these MPAs are often assessed based on these fish parameters. In the Philippines, government support towards marine conservation is apparent as various policies were instituted. In this paper, we assessed the three established MPAs (Molugan, Hermano, Mambayaan) within Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines through underwater fish visual census (FVC). Reef fishes’ diversity, abundance, and biomass between inside and outside the MPAs were computed and sites were categorized based on established criterion. Diversity (moderate to high), abundance (moderate to high) and biomass (medium to very high) of reef fishes were not significantly different inside and outside the MPA except for Hermano’s reef fish abundance. However, the numerical values for reef fishes' diversity, abundance, and biomass were observed to be higher inside the MPAs compared to outside the MPAs.

Manual monitoring in aquaponics requires extensive labor but often fails to identify fish health and growth problems at their beginning stages. This review combines current research about smart aquaponics through the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) and image processing systems for monitoring fish growth. The research included a systematic evaluation of studies which applied IoT technology and computer vision and their joint application in aquaponic systems. The integration of these technologies shows the greatest potential for real-time automated non-invasive fish growth parameter monitoring according to research findings. The authors conduct an ongoing thesis project about this combined approach although results remain pending the project supports the current relevance of this review. The widespread adoption of these technologies faces ongoing challenges because of high capital expenses and system integration difficulties and insufficient consideration of socioeconomic factors. Research should focus on developing affordable scalable solutions with user-friendly interfaces while creating standardized methods for performance evaluation.

Brachyuran fauna or the true crabs are among the species rich but deficiently recognized species, particularly in the Philippines. While numerous studies have focused on specific groups or regions, a comprehensive, country-wide checklist of Philippine crustacean decapods has not been published since 1959. This study provides an updated taxonomic account of the Mindanao brachyuran fauna in the selected localities of the province of Taw-tawi, including its distributional records. A total of 11 sampling sites along the coastal and mangrove areas were explored for the collection of crab specimens from May to July 2024. Crabs were manually collected by hand, sexed, measured, photographed, and preserved in 75% ethanol. Identification was based on available taxonomic keys, peer-reviewed literatures, and validated online databases. A comprehensive literature review for their taxonomic records and distribution, including its ecological information was also done. This study documented 24 species of brachyuran fauna belonging to 12 families from selected coastal and mangrove areas of Tawi-tawi Province, Philippines. This study recorded the first occurrence of two species Metopograpsus sp. and Macrophthalmus sp. on the main island of Tawi-Tawi, highlights the rich biodiversity of the region's coastal and mangrove ecosystems. The most widely distributed across sampling sites were Ocypode ceratophthalmus, Micippa philyra, Thalamita crenatata, Baptozius vinosus, Uca crassipes, and Calappa hepatica. The findings highlight the taxonomic diversity of brachyuran fauna in the coastal and mangrove ecosystem, thus, provide baseline taxonomic data for monitoring.

This study assessed the economic profitability of cultured local mudfish (Channa striata) fry in net cages with extended photoperiod for a 28-day rearing trial. The experiment applied two treatments: One used natural photoperiod (natural), and the other used 24 h photoperiod (24L:0D). Fry provided with 24 h photoperiod grew faster compared to the fry grown in natural photoperiod. The fry grown in light-aided condition reached a desired size for nursery culture (33.67±0.25 mm) within 2 weeks. Thus, provision of continuous photoperiod in larval culture shortened the period in the hatchery phase. Notably, the abundance of zooplankton at night was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in light-aided condition (3091.09±1028.80 individuals L^-1) compared to control treatment with natural photoperiod (1240.92±675.70 individuals L^-1). The increased prey availability contributed to the enhanced growth rate of the fry. Further, treatment with continuous photoperiod (24L:0D) has significantly higher (p < 0.05) survival rate (69.56±2.47%) compared to the treatment with a natural photoperiod (23.11±11.33%). Moreover, the economic analysis revealed that 24L:0D obtained a higher net profit (₱205,588.60) and return on investment (56.02%) compared to the natural photoperiod treatment, indicating its feasibility as a cost-effective rearing strategy.

Echinoderms, especially sea urchins and sea cucumbers, are part of the diet in coastal communities in the Philippines. However, consuming them raw may cause food poisoning from pathogenic bioluminescent bacteria (BLB). This study identified commercially important echinoderms present in Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape, Zambales, and isolated their associated BLB. Nineteen samples from two species of sea urchins (Tripneustes gratilla and Salmacis sphaeroides), and three species of sea cucumbers (Holothuria impatiens, H. leucospilota, and H. scabra) were collected. BLB were detected in the gonads and intestines of sea urchins and body walls and intestines of sea cucumbers. Molecular identification of the isolated BLB using the 16S rRNA gene identified 18 out of 25 (72%) BLB isolates including 15 Vibrio species, two Acinetobacter species, and one Stutzerimonas species, S. stutzeri. Molecular evidenace supports genus-level classification of 17 out of the 18 species, although further study is needed to confirm species-level identification. This study has three important results: (1) notably the first observation of bioluminescence activity in Acinetobacter spp. and S. stutzeri in echinoderms, (2) the first report of bioluminescent bacteria in S. sphaeroides and H. impatiens, and (3) the confirmed presence of three BLB groups in the edible parts of sea urchins and sea cucumbers.

This study aims to determine the identity, availability, diversity, seasonality, marketability, coastal sources, merchandise, and commercial value of different edible mollusks sold in the local public markets in the province of Capiz. Information on the various edible mollusks sold in Capiz's local public markets was gathered through interviews with vendors who participated as respondents. The survey, conducted from June to August 2024, involved thirty-nine (39) vendors from different local markets. During the interviews, vendors were shown pictures of the mollusks to ensure clarity and consistency in identifying the species, which may have different local names across locations. The most frequently sold edible mollusks in Capiz's local markets are Perna viridis (Asian Green Mussel) and Magallana bilineata (Philippine Cupped Oyster), available in all markets, with a majority of vendors selling them. On the other hand, less commonly sold species include Tegillarca granosa (Blood Cockle), Anodontia edentula (Toothless Clam), Pecten maximus (Great Scallops), and Laevistrombus turturella (Dog Conch), which are sold in fewer local markets and by fewer vendors. Out of the nineteen species in the study, Perna viridis (tahong) was identified as the fastest-selling edible mollusk, while Telescopium telescopium (bagongon) was the slowest-selling. Magallana bilineata (talaba) ranked second in fast-selling mollusks but also third in slow-selling ones. Marcia hiantina (punaw), Antigona lacerata (tuway), Telescopium telescopium (bagongon), and Modiolus philippinarum (abahong) were observed to be both fast-selling and slow-selling in various local markets within the province.

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) are ecologically and economically important demersal fishes, yet scientific information on their species composition, morphology, and feeding ecology in the Philippines remains limited. In this study, 90 specimens were obtained from the General Santos City Public Market from November 6, 2024 to January 20, 2025, measured for morphological characters, and dissected for gut content analysis. Species identification was based on morphometric data, field guides, FishBase, and WoRMS. Statistical analyses were performed using PAST software and Microsoft Excel. Four species were identified: Bothus pantherinus (Family Bothidae), Brachirus aspilos, Dexillus muelleri, and Pardachirus pavoninus (Family Soleidae). Correlation analyses revealed strong and significant (p < 0.05) relationships between total length (TL) and several morphological characters among the identified species, indicating proportional growth patterns. Gut content analysis revealed a predominantly benthic carnivorous diet, with polychaetes comprising 75% of prey, followed by crustaceans and small fishes.

Flying fish (Cheilopogon intermedius) is an underutilized yet abundant species in the Philippines with potential for value addition. This study evaluated the effects of different marinating solutions on the sensory quality, microbial safety, nutritional value, and shelf-life of flying fish fillets. Fillets were prepared using three marinades: M1 (“ham flavor”), M2 (“salty-sour flavor”), M3 (“spiced flavor”), and C (un-marinated control). Sensory evaluation (10-point scale) showed that M1 consistently received the highest scores for color (9.34 ± 0.15), texture (9.15 ± 0.27), flavor (sweetness 8.95 ± 0.15; saltiness 8.95 ± 0.60), and overall acceptability (9.64 ± 0.27). Consumer testing likewise indicated that M1 as most preferred (5.28 ± 0.12 on a 7-point scale) formulation, followed by M2 (5.06 ± 0.12), while C was least accepted (~3.40). All marinated fillets met microbial safety standards, showing < 10 MPN.g⁻¹ coliforms, Salmonella was absent (in 25 g sample), and aerobic plate counts of < 10² CFU.g⁻¹. Nutritional analysis revealed higher protein (13 g) and energy (60 kcal) contents in marinated samples compared to the control (11 g, 50 kcal). Shelf-life testing indicated extended microbial stability, with M3 fillets maintaining acceptability up to 16 days at 6 °C and 220 days at –18 °C, versus 7 and 97 days for control, respectively.