Status of Philippine Coral Reef Fisheries

摘要

Coral reefs have traditionally supplied coastal human populations with fishery products Reef fisheries constitute about 20% of the total marine production (1 64 million mt) in the Philippines, as of the late 1990s. Based on the total area of coral reefs, which is 25,000 km~2, and the average fish yield of good reefs, estimated at 15 mt-km~2 yr, the potential annual production of Philippine coral reefs would be about 350,000 mt Since only 30% remains in good condition and 70% is in degraded condition,this estimated annual production have been reduced to about 177,500 mt as of the 1990s. Coral reef fisheries in the central. Philippines comprise about 125 reef and reef-associated species distributed in 14 families. Aside from being over-fished, the Philippine coral reefs have been damaged by the use of destructive fishing methods. The high intensity of fishing (up to 50% of fish standing stock removed by fishing annually) has resulted in the depletion of fishery species. Protection of reefs occurs at a slow rate, indicating a need to increase efforts at establishing marine reserves and restoring degraded reefs to stabilize or enhance fish yields.