This report describes the present state of marine resources in several coastal barangays of Ibajay and Tangalan, Aklan (Philippines). Field data were obtained from rapid surveys conducted from July to September 1998. Recommendations based on analyses of the data will guide fisherfolk and other stakeholders, particularly the local government units, in their development plans for these neighboring municipalities. Both land and marine products in the area are mainly harvested for the local market. All coastal barangays are dependent on fishing for their livelihood. The medium-scale municipal fishery of Tangalan employs several passive (encircling gill net, bag net, fish corral) and active gears (baby purse seine) compared with the traditional fishing methods employed by Ibajay fishers. Pond aquaculture in mangrove areas is well-developed in Ibajay West (barangays Aquino and Ondoy) and in Tangalan. However, ownership of these ponds is limited to a few individuals and families, unlike in Barangay Bugtong Bato where informal ownership distributed among families has been the traditional rule. Nonetheless, the introduction of so-called environment-friendly methods of utilizing mangroves (e.g., aquasilviculture) and other shared coastal resources may seriously undermine the informal rights-based social structures in the barangays. Without proper rules and enforcement, the application of these methods may be misused, aggravating the already poor overall state of their coastal resources. Major problems affecting their fishing livelihood include siltation of nearshore waters due to illegal deforestation upland, encroachment of municipal fishing grounds by commercial and other fishers elsewhere, and the lack of capital to finance the fishery. Weak inter-organizational links among government and non-government organizations have hampered the implementation of solutions to these common problems in coastal barangays. For instance, a conflict between fishers from these neighboring municipalities over territorial boundaries of common fishing grounds in Pangayawan and Pungtod reefs has not been resolved over the years. Likewise, the introduction of aquasilviculture in mangrove areas may become a potent source of conflict among resource-users who maintain informal rights over the mangrove resource. The overall state of coastal resources in these municipalities is in immediate need of a unified plan to promote both their preservation and conservation. To achieve this end, a joint resource management council representing all resource-users from both municipalities must be organized and convened. To address the presently weak inter-organizational links among existing organizations, this joint council may provide a legitimate forum to identify, resolve, integrate, implement, and enforce guidelines on the common use of resources, both marine and inland. Low estimated yields from the reef fishery, conversion of mangroves for aquaculture beyond the allowable limit, a persistent conflict over fishing rights in several reefs offshore, the limited resources for seaweed and fish mariculture, and threats on existing traditional social structures by progressive resource-users are several issues that require thorough discussions to formulate popularly approved and acceptable management strategies. These strategies include community-based approaches of co-managing resources such as "no-take zones" (sanctuaries), ecotourism development, and livelihood schemes to mitigate, in part, the pressure of over-exploitation of fishery resources.

Abstracts of the 6 chapters included in this publication are cited individually.

An up-to-date account is given of the biology of milkfish (Chanos chanos) under the following chapter headings: Species identity and history; geographic distribution and variation; life history and habitat; food and feeding habits; age, growth and mortality; reproduction; behavior; environmental physiology; and, community relationships.

This book is a reader-friendly illustrated account of the life history of milkfish (Chanos chanos) in nature and in aquaculture. It describes the different farming systems and status of the milkfish industry, and recommends means to ensure sustainability.

A textbook on diseases of cultured warmwater fish and shrimps in the Philippines. Eleven chapters cover essential information on the basic principles of disease causation, major diseases of cultured fish and crustaceans, particularly shrimps, and methods of prevention and control. Emphasis is made on major diseases that occur in the Philippines and other countries in the Asian region. Included also are topics on harmful algae, immunology and molecular biological diagnostic techniques.

This monograph provides updated information on diseases of marine and brackishwater cultured milkfish in the Philippines. The information presented here is largely based on the results of a three-year research project on milkfish at the University of the Philippines Visayas funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The project involved surveillance and monitoring of hatchery, nursery and grow-out operations for occurrence of diseases as well as on disease diagnosis, prevention and control. Previously documented reports in the Philippines and in other documents, both published and unpublished, are also included in this monograph. The diseases are discussed on a culture phase basis, that is, disease problems encountered in hatchery-reared larvae and fry are listed first, followed by diseases observed in fingerlings and juveniles grown in nursery and grow-out culture areas, and adult stages maintained in broodstock facilities. Information regarding the causative agent, diagnostic procedures, and methods of prevention and control for each disease are provided, if available.

A 64-page booklet that describes SEAFDEC/AQD’s community fishery resources management project from 1991 to 1998 with a post project assessment in 2009.

SEAFDEC FishWorld worked with fishers and government officers to document 93 sea turtles captured by fishing gears along the coasts of Panay and Guimaras Islands, Philippines in 2000-2009: three leatherbacks Dermochelys coriacea (128-150 cm curved carapace length), two loggerheads Caretta caretta (77 cm), 18 olive ridleys Lepidochelys olivacea (47-69 cm), 18 hawksbills Eretmochelys imbricata (20-89 cm), and 52 green turtles Chelonia mydas (30-108 cm). Most green turtles were caught in near shore fish corrals, and most olive ridleys by gill nets and long lines. Of the 18 hawksbills, 2 adults were caught in fish corrals, 3 juveniles were entangled in nets in Iloilo Strait, 6 were pets off our people,and 7 were captives at a turtle feeding station near a known hawksbill nesting site in Lawi, Guimaras. Sixty documented turtles were released, 47 of them with monel or inconel tags of the Pawikan Conservation Project, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The others died from entanglement, serious injuries, slaughter for market, and diseases. Six female green turtles had multiple fibropapillomas; two died, three were released, and the latest one healed well after the surgical removal of several large tumors and was released. One green turtle brought to FishWorld has advanced shell rot, is unable to submerge, but is doing well on a diet of red seaweed Gracilaria. Three pet hawksbills were retrained for life at sea; one was released after 17 months, another after 57 months, but one is still at FishWorld as Conservation Ambassador. The most important result of FishWorld's work in the past 10 years is that many captured sea turtles were checked for health condition, treated where necessary or possible, tagged, and released back to sea. In addition, data on 93 sea turtles were gathered that can be used in the continuing effort to monitor the locations, risks and threats, health and diseases, and movements of these endangered species.

Abstracts of the 78 papers presented at the conference are cited individually.