Socio-Demographic Profile and Handling Practices of Flying Fish Fishers: Policy Implication

This paper attempts to benchmark information on the handling practices employed by flying fish fishers which could affect the quality of the fish as well as to identify the different species of flying fish in Sta Ana, Cagayan. A descriptive survey with Focus Group Discussion was used. The results of the study showed that respondents have a mean age of 41, most of them were married, finished high school, and earned their income in flying fish fishing with a household size of 5-6 members. On the fishing background, most of the fishers have their own boats and nets; fishing gear used is gill net and respondents are fishing for 5-10 years. The peak months are February to May with a volume catch of 81 kilos while the lean months were November to January with 5-10 kilos per fishing operation with a price of 20-50 and 50-70 pesos respectively. On fishing practices, most of the fishers start fishing from 5-6 am. Duration of the longest fishing trip is 3-4 hours. Catch during the peak months is sold at a very low price, processed into other products and sometimes given for free. On post-harvest handling, the fishers use cracked ice while on board to preserve their catch. They also use 1: 1 ratio of seawater, as an alternate mode of preservation. Their catch is used for human consumption sold to middlemen and dried. There were nine species of flying fish caught within municipal waters of Sta Ana, Cagayan.