Actinopyga echinites (Jaeger, 1833) is among the most exploited holothurians for exports in the Philippines. Despite its economic significance, the lack of management initiatives resulted in declining wild stocks. This study provides information on external morphology and biometric characteristics like length-weight relationship and condition factor of A. echinites for proper management and sustainability. The study was conducted conducted in dry (March to May 2021) and wet (June to August 2021) seasons in Cabgan Island, Barobo, Surigao del Sur, where two stations with three plots (10 × 10m) were laid as monitoring stations. The results revealed that A. echinites showed coloration and shape variation to adapt to their environment. Higher mean length (7.7cm) and significantly higher mean weight (41.5g) were observed in A. echinites in Station 2 than the ones in Station 1 (p < 0.05). Both stations had a higher length (7.8cm and 8.4cm) and weight (38.4g and 49.7g) during wet than dry months, but only Station 2 showed significant differences for the two parameters. The population showed a negative allometric growth resulting in its leaner shape, with the slope of regression lines being 1.89 and 1.82 in Station 1 and 1.75 and 1.97 in Station 2 for the dry and wet months, respectively. Both stations recorded high condition factors but significantly higher during the wet season (p < 0.05). Further study on the reproductive biology and environmental characteristics is needed to enhance scientifically sound management interventions for the conservation and sustainability of A. echinites populations.
Bivalve molluscs comprise an important artisanal invertebrate fishery in Panguil Bay in northern Mindanao. The bay also supports one of the largest seaweed farming projects in the region. Recent concerns on declining water quality in the bay due to domestic sewage and industrial effluents motivated this research into investigating the bacterial contamination of food resources from the bay. Ten selected commercially important edible bivalve species from wild population and Kappaphycus alvarezii (guso) from a seaweed farm were collected monthly for 12 months from the Lanao del Norte side of Panguil Bay for the analysis of bacterial contamination, particularly fecal coliform bacteria. Water and sediments from the habitats of these organisms were also sampled for the same microbiological analyses. Fecal coliform bacteria were noted in Arca antiquata (litob-litob), Katylesia sp. (punaw), Meretrix meretrix (burnay), and Modiolus metcalfei (amahong) from freshly hand-picked samples from the muddy tidal flat in certain areas in the municipalities of Lala and Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Bivalve samples from market displays such as Anadara sp. (balinsala), Modiolus sp. (baluyang), Pharella acutidens (tudlo-datu), and Trisidos sp. (lubag-lubag), Anodontia edentula (imbaw) and Mercenaria sp. (tuway) were also similarly contaminated. The extent of bacterial contamination from hand-picked and market samples exceeded the current acceptability standards of Philippine bivalves for human consumption as set by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). It is strongly recommended that bivalves from Panguil Bay be depurated and cooked properly before these are served in dining tables. There is no standard for fecal coliform density in seaweeds but the values obtained in the farmed seaweed, K. alvarezii, was within the acceptability standard for Philippine bivalves, thus, it may be considered safe for human consumption.
The supply of eggs and fry is one of the major constraints in the future development of aquaculture. Domestication of broodstock requires complete control of the reproductive biology for year-round spawning of the fish. Domestication of Siganus guttatus broodstock could alleviate broodstock shortages, enable selection of stock with desirable attributes, and allow continuous and sustainable production of juveniles. In this study, the reproductive potential of S. guttatus broodstock of different ages was assessed in terms of spawning frequency, fecundity, fertilization rate, number of larvae produced per spawning, and larval survival. Three age groups of siganid broostock were used in the study, namely, 5-6, 4-5 and 1-2 years old. The age of broodstock significantly affected spawning frequency and larval survival. No significant difference was observed among the different broodstock in terms of fecundity, fertilization rate, and number of larvae produced per spawning event.
Actinopyga echinites are among the commercially exploited sea cucumbers; however, limited studies hinder the management interventions for the sustainability of the resource. This study investigates the density and size distribution of A. echinites populations in Cabgan Island, Barobo, Surigao del Sur from March–August 2021 with two stations (shallow seagrass beds as Station 1 and algal flats as Station 2) having three plots (100 m2) laid as monitoring stations. The results revealed the population density of A. echinites ranged from 567–2,567 ind/ha with a mean of 1,572 ± 225 ind/ha in Station 1 and 733–2,400 ind/ha and a mean of 1,389 ± 178 ind/ha in Station 2. Significant differences were only observed across months in each station (P = 0.00) and their interaction between months and stations (P = 0.01). A. echinites had a mean length of 7.58 ± 0.26 cm and weight of 31.39 ± 1.62 g for Station 1 and 7.84 ± 0.47 cm and 39.01 ± 3.91 g for Station 2. Specimens in Station 2 had a greater length and significantly heavier weight than in Station 1 (P = 0.00). Across months, significant differences were recorded for the specimen’s length in Station 1 and weight for both stations. The length of A. echinites ranged from 4–12 cm and 4–13.5 cm in Stations 1 and 2, respectively, and weight of 5–129 g in both stations. The highest frequencies were recorded at 7 cm in both stations and shifted to 9 cm. Weight distributions showed the highest frequencies in 35 g in the two stations. The present study shows that the population is still abundant and is more influenced by the sampling months than the stations. The species are smaller compared to other studies and might exhibit habitat preferences. Weight size distribution varied across months and could be related to their reproduction. The study provides significant insights needed for this species’ conservation and fishery management.
The significant exploitation of the high-value white teatfish, Holothuria fuscogilva, has raised global concerns about the species' wild populations. Aquaculture technology development may potentially restore dwindling stocks; however, it remains to be established in the Philippines. This study reported the first successful mass production of H. fuscogilva in the Philippines. The broodstock was collected on two occasions from Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental (May and June 2020). All broodstock survived with no evisceration in 30 min (27.8–35.2 ̊C) of transport to the hatchery. Broodstock was induced to spawn using spawning techniques adopted from those of Agudo (2006) with modification in three events (July, August, and December 2020). However, successful spawning only occurred when the temperature was reduced by 7 ̊C (extreme cold shock).H. fuscogilva produced 3.4 million eggs in three spawning inductions at > 88% fertilization rate. The eggs hatched 2–3 d post-fertilization. Generally, the embryonic development of H. fuscogilva was radial holoblastic, and the larval development had the same pattern as other sea cucumber species. The auricularia stage was observed at Days 4–27, followed by the doliolaria stage at Days 28–32, and pentactula stage at 33–39 d post-fertilization. An average of 1.1% of the fertilized eggs proceeded to the juvenile stage at 40–45 d post-fertilization. Over 4 mo, juveniles grew at 0.03 ± 0.002 g d–1. This is the first documentation of the larval development of H. fuscogilva and the first production of the juvenile stage in the Philippines, where 15,000 juveniles are being grown in the hatchery for future broodstock.
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