Fishing Practices of Blue Swimming Crab in Northern Catanduanes, Philippines: Implications towards Sustainable Management

Fishermen in Northern Catanduanes rely heavily on Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) as a source of income. The goal of this study was to characterize the BSC fishery in the maritime environments of Viga, Panganiban, Pandan, and Bagamanoc. A survey was conducted to gather data on the BSC fishery in Northern Catanduanes from February to May 2023. The results revealed that the income of crabbers and their families was well below the poverty threshold. This was worsened by the lack of formal education among crabbers, which restricted their options for finding alternative sources of income. The primary fishing gears utilized by fishers were bottom set gill nets, crab pots, and crab lift nets with 55.77%, 14.90% and 15.38%, respectively. The peak fishing season for most municipalities occurred between May and July while the lean season varied from October to February. About 95.19% of the crab fishers violated regulation on the implementation of the minimum carapace width of 10.2 cm for blue swimming crabs allowed for catching, collecting and trading. The sustainability of the BSC fishery in Northern Catanduanes is under threat. It is critical to put in place efficient management strategies to deal with the issues causing the BSC stocks to decrease. In order to ensure sustainable fishing methods, these actions should prioritize lowering fishing pressure, keeping an eye on and informing crab fishermen, offering substitute revenue streams, and launching education and awareness initiatives.