The Philippine Journal of Fisheries

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

Check out NFRDI Philippines's FiSearch 2nd issue for this year! If you want to know more about our aquaculture research initiatives and results, this issue is for you! 😉

𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒: You may now access the 2026 second quarter issue of FiSearch!

Read and download here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2fdc975083.html

𝗙𝗶𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 is DA-NFRDI's official quarterly publication that features the latest fisheries research and development (R&D) programs, projects, and activities relevant to the sector.

Help us to serve you better. For feedback, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/32scfeee

14/07/2026

We mourn the passing of 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, a world-renowned marine biologist, a dear colleague, and one of our editorial board members.

Dr. Kent E. Carpenter devoted his life to advancing marine science and biodiversity conservation, leaving an extraordinary legacy that continues to shape fisheries research in the Philippines and around the world.

His journey in the Philippines began in 1975 as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer, shortly after earning his Bachelor of Science degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. Assigned to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Research Division—now the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI)—he pioneered coral reef research within the agency.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Carpenter served as a staff scientist at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and later as Senior Fisheries Research Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. It was during his work with the FAO that he made one of his most influential scientific contributions—identifying the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿" 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, a recognition that underscored the country's unparalleled richness in marine life and reinforced its global importance in marine conservation.

Dr. Kent has been a member of our editorial board since the journal's revival in 2017.

May Dr. Kent rest in eternal peace. His legacy will forever live on in the waters he devoted his life to understanding and protecting.

09/07/2026

Sardines are among the Philippines' most important fish, helping to feed millions of Filipinos while providing jobs and income for fishing communities and the seafood industry. Since 2014, the country has produced an average of 341,000 metric tons of sardines each year, worth more than PHP 10 billion. However, the industry is facing growing challenges from climate change, environmental pressures, and rising economic risks.

To better understand these challenges, researchers examined the sardine value chain across areas that produce 86% of the country's sardines. They interviewed 421 fishers, traders, and processors to learn how each group earns a living and what problems they face.

The study found that while fishers can earn good returns from their work, many still struggle with low incomes because they often rely on traders for loans to cover fishing expenses. Traders generally earn the most from each buying and selling cycle, but they also face unstable market prices and high operating costs. Meanwhile, the profits of sardine processors vary depending on the size of their business and the products they make.

The researchers suggest several ways to make the sardine industry more resilient by strengthening economic resilience through collateral-free credit, cooperative input purchasing, and risk insurance in typhoon-prone provinces, additional investments in cold storage, ice plants, and modernized processing technologies, alongside alternative livelihood programs during closed seasons to safeguard fisher incomes.

Finally, the study highlights the need for better policies and governance. Simplifying business permits, improving coordination between local and national regulations, strengthening efforts against illegal fishing, and improving seafood traceability can help create a fairer, more sustainable, and more competitive sardine industry for everyone involved.

To learn more, read the full article here https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf

Please help us serve you better. For feedback on our publications and other IECs, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC

The Philippine Journal of Fisheries (TPJF) is a semi-annual, open-access journal published by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). TPJF is indexed in Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Committee on Publication Ethics, and ASEAN Citation Index, among others.

In the photo: Backyard sun-drying of sardines commonly practiced by small-scale processors.

06/07/2026

Spiny lobsters are an important source of food and income for many coastal communities in the Philippines. However, managing these valuable fisheries is difficult because there is still not enough information about the different lobster species and how fishing affects their populations.

To help address this, researchers studied more than 9,000 spiny lobsters collected in Eastern Visayas from February 2018 to December 2019. They examined six 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 species (𝘗. 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, 𝘗. 𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, 𝘗. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳, and 𝘗. 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢) to understand how fast the lobsters grow, how many die naturally or are caught by fishing, and whether current fishing practices are sustainable

The results showed that most of the lobster species are being harvested too heavily. In five of the six species studied, fishing pressure was higher than what is considered sustainable. Even more concerning, nearly half to almost 90% (47–90%) of the lobsters caught had not yet reached the size at which they are able to reproduce. Catching lobsters before they can breed makes it harder for populations to replace themselves, reducing future catches and putting the fishery at risk.

The study also found that many lobsters are being caught while they are still relatively small, a sign of growth overfishing—where animals are harvested before they have a chance to grow to a more productive size. As a result, current fishing practices are producing lower yields than they could if more lobsters were allowed to grow and reproduce before being caught.

These findings highlight the need for better management of spiny lobster fisheries in Eastern Visayas. Setting minimum catch sizes, limiting fishing effort, and improving monitoring of lobster catches could help protect breeding populations, rebuild lobster stocks, and ensure that these fisheries continue to provide food and livelihoods for future generations.

To learn more, read the full article here https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf

Please help us serve you better. For feedback on our publications and other IECs, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC

The Philippine Journal of Fisheries (TPJF) is a semi-annual, open-access journal published by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). TPJF is indexed in Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Committee on Publication Ethics, and ASEAN Citation Index, among others.

In the photo: The study’s graphical abstract.

30/06/2026

TPJF Volume 33 Issue Number 1 (June 2026) is now out! 🥳

The current issue contains 1 review article, 2 short communications, and 9 research articles.

You may freely access them through our website https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf

The Philippine Journal of Fisheries (TPJF) is a semi-annual, open-access journal published by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI Philippines).

TPJF is indexed in Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Committee on Publication Ethics, and ASEAN Citation Index, among others.

Please help us serve you better. For feedback on our publications and other IECs, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC

11/06/2026

The early life stage of fish is one of the most critical periods for their survival. Understanding where fish spawn and where their larvae grow can help scientists protect important fish populations and support sustainable fisheries. However, very little is known about the spawning areas of commercially important fish species in the Sulu Sea, one of the Philippines’ richest marine biodiversity hotspots.

To help fill this gap, researchers examined fish larvae collected from 14 sampling stations off eastern Palawan during a joint research survey by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in October 2006.

The survey collected more than 2,300 fish larvae belonging to 85 different fish families. Among the most common were goatfishes, lanternfishes, and threadfin breams. Researchers also identified larvae from several tuna and mackerel species, including skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and kawakawa. Of these, frigate and bullet tunas (Auxis species) were the most abundant.

The study found that fish larvae were most abundant in the central part of the study area, whereas tuna larvae were more concentrated at the northern stations. Tuna larvae were also more diverse in deeper offshore waters than in shallower coastal areas. Near the coast, most larvae were found close to the surface, although their distribution varied in deeper waters.

While these patterns were observed, the differences were not strong enough to be considered statistically significant. Still, the large number of very young larvae suggests that many fish species, including tunas, had recently spawned, likely during the first week of October.

The findings provide valuable insights into the early life stages of fish in the Sulu Sea and can help guide future research and fisheries management efforts in this important marine ecosystem.

To learn more, read the full article here https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf

Please help us serve you better. For feedback on our publications and other IECs, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC

The Philippine Journal of Fisheries (TPJF) is a semi-annual, open-access journal published by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). TPJF is indexed in Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Committee on Publication Ethics, and ASEAN Citation Index, among others.

In the photo: Study’s Figure 2. The abundance and distribution of fish larvae at different stations in eastern Palawan using the surface and 25 m horizontal tows. The red circles in the maps represent the densities of the fish larvae. Surfer scale: 0.01 inches = l larva/1000 m³; 0.1 inches = 1000 larvae /1000 m³. The color bar at the right side indicates the ocean bathymetry of the sampling area in meters (m).

05/06/2026

This 🌏 , we celebrate the power of nature to help address climate challenges and sustain life on Earth. From lakes and rivers to coastal and marine habitats, aquatic ecosystems play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods.

We believe that science is a key part of the solution. By sharing research and knowledge on fisheries and aquatic resources, we help promote informed actions toward a more sustainable future.

Together, let's protect the waters that nourish both people and the planet.

05/06/2026

Introducing new fish species into lakes can be risky because they may compete with native fish, spread diseases, or disrupt the natural ecosystem. Detecting these risks early can help protect freshwater biodiversity and prevent economic losses for communities that depend on these lakes.

In this study, researchers evaluated the potential risks of five introduced fish species in five major lakes in the Philippines: Laguna de Bay, Lake Mainit, Lake Naujan, Lake Buhi, and Lake Paoay.

The study focused on “horizon species”—fish that have not yet been recorded in these lakes but are considered likely to arrive or become established in the future. Using a scientific risk assessment tool and the input of local stakeholders and experts, researchers evaluated how likely these species are to become invasive and what impacts they might have.

The results showed that most of the fish species assessed pose a medium to high risk of becoming invasive if they enter these lakes. This means they could potentially threaten native fish populations and alter the balance of these freshwater ecosystems.

Overall, the study provides valuable information that can help government agencies and resource managers develop science-based policies and preventive measures. By identifying potential threats before they occur, authorities can take steps to protect the country's freshwater biodiversity and reduce the chances of accidental introductions of invasive fish species.

To learn more, read the full article here https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf

Please help us serve you better. For feedback on our publications and other IECs, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC

The Philippine Journal of Fisheries (TPJF) is a semi-annual, open-access journal published by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). TPJF is indexed in Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Committee on Publication Ethics, and ASEAN Citation Index, among others.

In the photo: Study’s Figure 2. Program interface of the Aquatic Species-Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK).

14/05/2026

Read and know more about NFRDI's fisheries R&D projects and activities.

𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒: You may now access the 2026 first quarter issue of FiSearch!

Read and download here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/e607690742.html

𝗙𝗶𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 is DA-NFRDI's official quarterly publication that features the latest fisheries research and development (R&D) programs, projects, and activities relevant to the sector.

Help us to serve you better. For feedback, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2026IEC