The Lobo-lobo fry fishery in the western Visayan Sea, Philippines: Abundance, catch composition, and potential fisheries impact

Lobo-lobo are small fishes that are caught using fine mesh nets in the western Visayan Sea whose market extends outside of the Visayan Sea, and perhaps even outside of the country. With high consumer demands, it is targeted year-round. Catches of fine-meshed boat seines operating in the waters off Concepcion, Iloilo which target large amounts of small and early juvenile fishes were monitored daily from June to December 2016 and June 2020 to October 2021. Results showed that catches were comprised of several species and clearly show the selection for early juveniles by the lobo-lobo fishery. At least 53 families comprise the lobo-lobo catches, dominated by Engraulidae (78.5%) and Clupeidae (13.1%), and are mostly comprised of post-larvae and early juveniles with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 3.6 cm standard length. The estimated total annual catch of the local boat seine fleet during the study period ranged from 313.8 mt to 869.0 mt. The fishing operations are concentrated between Tago and Igbon Islands and appear to be consistent throughout the year, but the composition and proportion of catches differed seasonally. This area appears to be a critical habitat, supporting the growth and survival of several species. Protecting this area and restricting the use of fine-meshed nets targeting fry will likely have an overall positive impact on the local fish stocks.