Occurrence of milkfish eggs in the adjacent waters of Panay Island, Philippines

Abstract

Location of spawning grounds of milkfish is one of the most important steps towards gaining knowledge on the spawning habits of the fish as well as the early life history and nature of its eggs and larvae. The present study is an attempt towards this objective. Surveys were made in selected areas in the sea around the Panay Island and milkfish eggs were collected on several occasions from surface to 20 m depth water by towing with larval nets. The eggs floated in the water in a glass jar. The eggs and newly hatched larvae had the same characteristics as described by Delsman (1929). A comparative study has been made to distinguish milkfish eggs from other more or less similar size pelagic eggs of fishes occurring in the same waters at the same time.