Population Dynamics of the White Spotted Rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus Park, 1797) in Panguil Bay, Philippines

The white spotted rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus Park, 1797) is a commercially important commodity occurring in the northern coast and southern coast of Panguil Bay. This fish was reported to be caught by fishing gears like filter net, fish corral, bottom set gill net, stationary lift net, motorized scissors net, and spear. To understand the population dynamics and associated status of white spotted rabbitfish in Panguil Bay, the growth, mortality, exploitation and recruitment pattern were determined from June 2002 to May 2003. A total of 1,513 samples of white spotted rabbitfish were collected from the four sampling stations established in Panguil Bay. Growth was estimated using the FiSAT II and the estimated parameters were L∞ = 33.20 cm and K = 0.54 yr-1. Total, natural and fishing instantaneous rate of mortality values were Z = 3.80 yr-1 , M = 1.18 yr-1 , F = 2.62 yr-1 and the exploitation rate value was E = 0.69 yr1 . Projected recruitment pattern of S. canaliculatus suggests that this species spawns all year round. Based on the results, S. canaliculatus caught by fish corral in Panguil Bay from June 2002 to May 2003 was overexploited and that management strategies of this resource must be promulgated and implemented to address the depleting fishery.