Knowing where to fish

Now, fishermen have a way of knowing where schools of fish abound.

This is through a technology developed by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) in Diliman, Quezon City.

The technology can identify areas with abundant plankton, a mass of tiny plants and animals floating in the sea or in lakes, usually near the surface, and eaten by fish and other aquatic animals.

"Areas of high planktonic production are potential fishing zones," pointed out a UP-MSI research team that conducted study titled "Ocean color for sustainable fisheries."

Done by the team led by Dr Laura David with funding support from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), the three-year study took its name from "ocean color data", which refers to accurate measurements of light intensity at visible wavelengths.

Ocean color data are related to the presence of substance or particulates on the surface of the water, especially the presence of photosynthetic phytoplankton (tiny plants as differentiated to zooplanktons or tiny animals) that contains chlorophyll (the green matter of plants).

"Ocean color observations are made through the use of satellite technology," explained UP-MSI, as reported by DA-BAR’s Junelyn S. de la Rosa.

With the use of satellite technology, oceanographic features can be mapped in near real time basis. This capability, coupled with the knowledge of oceanographic conditions affecting fisheries population and historical catch data, can lead to forecasting of fish populations and their movements.

The DA-BAR-funded UP-MSI project identified the most productive fishing grounds that have an average of annual fisheries production of 50,000 metric tons and more per year. These are Moro Gulf, East Sulu Sea, South Sulu Sea, Visayas Sea, Bohol Sea, and Guimaras Strait. These areas contribute one-half of the total annual fish production in the country.

Leyte Gulf, Samar Sea, West Palawan Waters, Cuyo Pass, and Lamon Bay have a moderate fisheries production of 25,000-50, 000 per year.

The lowest average fish catch data of less than 25,000 mt/year were recorded in Babuyan Channel, Palanan Bay, Lingayen Gulf, Manila Bay, Batangas Coast, Tayabas Bay, Casiguran Sound, Lagonoy Gulf, Ragay Gulf, Camotes Sea, Sibuyan Sea, Northeast Mindanao Water, Davao Gulf, Southern Mindanao Water, and West Sulu Sea.

UP-MSI expressed optimism that the technology it has developed can be used as an effective tool for sustainable fisheries management in the near future. More important, with the technology Filipino fishermen will now know where to fish and can catch more fish. – Rudy A. Fernandez