Preliminary Assessment of the
Handline Fisheries in the
Philippines
14th NATIONAL TUNA CONGRESS
September 7, 2012
Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Gear Classification
Lines:
A. Handlines (“kawil”)
1. Simple handlines or drop lines (“kawil”)
2. Multiple handlines (“kawil-moderno”)
3. Jiggers (“hila-hila”)
4. Pole and lines (“binwit o biwas”)
5. Troll lines (“sibid-sibid o pahila”)
B. Longlines (“kitang”)
1. Set longlines (“palagiang-kitang”)
2. Drift longlines (“kitang-paanod”)
Umali, 1952
Gear Classification
Lines
– device consisting of baited hooks attched to a line or lines which
fish on the principle that fish fall victims to baits.
A. Handlines (“kawil”)
- long simple lines with only a small series of baited hooks
requiring constant attention.
1. Simple handlines or drop lines (“kawil”)
barbed hooks
water
- a single vertical line carrying 1 or 2
and worked by simply dropping it into the
and waiting for a fish to bite.
Gear Classification
2. Multiple handlines (“kawil-moderno”)
- a single vertical line with a series of
barbed hooks attached to it by spreaders at
regular intervals.
Gear Classification
3. Jiggers
- lines, each bearing a
multiple-hooked device, which are
worked by jerking up and down
under bright light, amking hooked
lures attractive to squids
4. Pole and lines
- handlines attached to a pole
Gear Classification
5. Troll lines
- long handlines, fished horizontally with a hook or hooks at
the free end, baited with either a natural or artificial lure, and the
whole arrangement towed behind a boat underway.
Gear Classification
Hook and Lines:
A. Handlines (“kawil”)
- is used to capture deep swimming
tunas, principally yellowfin but also bigeye.
Handlining is usually practiced while the banca
is tied on a payao set in deep water. There is
only one (1) hook used per line but up to six (6)
lines maybe operated from the same vessel at
one time.
De Jesus, 1982
Gear Classification
B. Longlines (“kitang”)
- used to catch deep-swimming tunas
- mainlines, bouylines and branchlines are tied together
- originally of Tawanese origin
De Jesus, 1982
Gear Classification
C. Troll lines
- used for surface schools of small tunas
- two bancas move towards the school and away from each
other, paying out the troll line within them
De Jesus, 1982
Port Sampling
Port sampling data were gathered in the following
sampling sites:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Tabaco City, Albay
Sugod, Tiwi, Albay
Nato, Sagñay, Camarines Sur
Sabang, San Jose, Camarines Sur
Period Covered: September 2009 - August 2010
Port Sampling
Sabang
# of Fishers
201
# of Handline
667
# of Boats
205
Tabaco
333
1,387
312
Nato
87
87
84
Tiwi
988
3,825
466
Total
1,609
5,966
1,067
Average
402
1,492
267
Line Gears
Catch Composition: HL
Catch Composition of Handline in Region 5
Coryphaena
hippurus
4%
Istiophorus
platypterus
2%
Katsuwonus
pelamis
5%
Thunnus
alalunga
35%
Others
6%
Thunnus
albacares
48%
Catch Composition: Jigger
Catch Composition of Jigger in Region 5
Sepioteuthis sp
2%
Loligo spp
37%
Octopus spp.
34%
Sepia spp
27%
Catch Composition: MHL
Catch Composition of Multiple Hook & Line in Region 5
Thunnus
tonggol
3%
Others
11%
Thunnus
albacares
34%
Auxis thazard
7%
Katsuwonus
pelamis
19%
Selar
crumenophthal
mus
26%
Catch Composition: TL
Catch Composition of Troll Line in Region 5
Thunnus
albacares
2%
Coryphaena
hippurus
10%
Makaira
mazara
1%
Katsuwonus
pelamis
87%
Length Class: HL
Length Class: HL
Length Class: MHL
Observed Length Sizes (in cm) of Skipjack Tuna Caught by Multiple
Hook & Line in Selected Sites in Bicol Region
600
400
300
MHL_SKJ
200
100
0
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
109
118
127
136
145
154
163
172
181
190
199
Number
500
Length Class: TL
Observed Length Sizes (in cm) of Skipjack Tuna Caught by Troll
Line in Selected Sites in Bicol Region
600
400
300
TL_SKJ
200
100
0
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
109
118
127
136
145
154
163
172
181
190
199
Number
500
Monthly Effort: HL
Monthly effort (hours) and hours/trip for Bicol handliners, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
YFT CPUE: HL
Monthly Yellowfin CPUE for handliners in Bicol, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
Alb CPUE: HL
Monthly Albacore CPUE for handliners in Bicol, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
Effort and CPUE: Jigger
Effort (Hours)
2,500
Hours per trip
15
Effort (Hours)
10
1,500
1,000
5
500
0
0
200911
2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
12
Monthly CPUE for
jiggers in Bicol, Sep 2009
– Aug 2010
Hours per trip
2,000
Monthly effort (days) and
days/trip for the jiggers in
Bicol, Sep 2009 – Aug
2010
Effort and CPUE: MHL
Effort (Hours)
2,500
35
Hours per trip
30
2,000
1,500
20
15
1,000
Hours per trip
Effort (Hours)
25
Monthly effort (days) and
days/trip for multiple
hook & line in Bicol, Sep
2009 – Aug 2010
10
500
5
0
0
2009- 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 20109
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
8
7
CPUE (kgs/hour)
Monthly CPUE for
multiple hook & line in
Bicol, Sep 2009 – Aug
2010
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2009-9 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
10
11
12
Effort and CPUE: TL
Effort (Hours)
Hours per trip
14
Effort (Hours)
1,600
1,400
12
1,200
10
1,000
8
800
6
600
Hours per trip
1,800
Monthly effort (days) and
days/trip for troll line,
Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
4
400
2
200
0
0
2009- 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 20109
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12
10
SKJ CPUE (kgs/hour)
Monthly Skipjack CPUE
for Bicol troll liners, Sep
2009 – Aug 2010
8
6
4
2
0
2009-9 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
10
11
12
Port Sampling
Port sampling data were gathered in the following
sampling sites:
i) Brgy. Rodsan, Ngolos, Guiuan, Eastern Samar
ii) Sapao Beach, Guiuan, Eastern Samar
iii) Brgy. Sabang 1 & 2, Borongan, Eastern Samar
Period Covered: September 2009 – August 2010
Port Sampling
Region 8
# HL/TL boats
# of HL/TL fishers
# DGN boats
- motorized boats
- non-motorized boats
# of DGN fishers
# of Spear boats
# Spear fishers
Fish Coral
- # of fishers
- # of motor boats
- # of non-motorized boat
Borongan
Sabang 1 Sabang 2
22
50
22-66
50-150
Guiuan
Sapao Ngoloss
48
87
82
128
24
8
6
2
64
17
24
24
12
14
12
2
Line Gears
Percentage Catch Contribution of Different Types of Line
Gears in Selected Sites in Eastern Samar
TL
34%
HL
66%
Catch Composition: HL
Catch Composition of Hook & Line Gear in Eastern Samar
Decapterus
macarellus
3%
Makaira mazara
5%
Others
9%
Coryphaena
hippurus
7%
Thunnus
albacares
27%
Katsuwonus
pelamis
49%
Catch Composition: TL
Catch Composition of Troll Line Gear in Eastern Samar
Decapterus
macarellus
5%
Coryphaena
hippurus
2%
Others
5%
Euthynnus
affinis
7%
Katsuwonus
pelamis
42%
Thunnus
albacares
39%
Length Class: HL
Observed Length Sizes (in cm) of Tuna Caught by Hook & Line in
Selected Sites in Eastern Samar
800
700
500
400
HL_YFT
300
HL_SKJ
200
100
0
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
109
118
127
136
145
154
163
172
181
190
199
Number
600
Length Class: TL
Observed Length Sizes (in cm) of Tuna Caught by Troll Line in
Selected Sites in Eastern Samar
250
150
TL_YFT
100
TL_SKJ
50
0
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
109
118
127
136
145
154
163
172
181
190
199
Number
200
Monthly Effort: HL
Effort (Hours)
Hours per trip
14,000
35
30
12,000
25
Effort (Hours)
10,000
20
8,000
15
6,000
Hours per trip
16,000
10
4,000
2,000
5
0
0
2009- 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 20109
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Monthly effort (hours) and hours/trip for Hook & Line in Eastern Samar, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
Effort and CPUE: HL
3
YFT CPUE (kgs/hour)
2
Monthly Yellowfin CPUE
for hook and line in Eastern
Samar, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
2
1
1
0
2009-9 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
10
11
12
5
4
SKJ CPUE (kgs/hour)
4
Monthly Skipjack CPUE for the
Eastern Samar Hook & Line
fleet, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
2009-9 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
10
11
12
Effort and CPUE: TL
Effort (Hours)
10,000
Hours per trip
50
9,000
8,000
40
6,000
30
5,000
4,000
20
Hours per trip
Effort (Hours)
7,000
3,000
2,000
10
1,000
0
0
2009- 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010- 20109
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Monthly effort (days) and days/trip for troll line, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
Effort and CPUE: TL
6
SKJ CPUE (kgs/hour)
5
Monthly Skipjack CPUE for
Eastern Samar troll liners,
Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
4
3
2
1
0
2009-9 200910
200911
2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
12
5
YFT CPUE (kgs/hour)
4
Monthly Yellowfin CPUE
for Eastern Samar troll
liners, Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
3
2
1
0
2009-9 2009- 2009- 2009- 2010-1 2010-2 2010-3 2010-4 2010-5 2010-6 2010-7 2010-8
10
11
12
Background
 General Santos is also known as the “Tuna Capital of the
Philippines” due to its high volume of fish unloaded everyday that can
surpass that of any other fish port or even the entire unloading of all
other fish ports in the country combined (Aprieto, 1995).
 tuna handline fishing started in the year 1970 along the territory of
Sarangani Province and General Santos City
From 1970 to 1980s, there were only around 500 handline boats
operating.
The number of handline boats continued to increase until it reached its
peak in the mid-1990’s with around 2,500 handline vessels.
In the late 1990’s, the number of handline vessels started to decrease.
Today, it is believed that there are only 1, 100 handline vessels
operating
Background
Year / No. of Vessels
BB Seiner
Super Seiner
Handline
1991-1995
105
6
2500
1996-2000
101
16
2000
2001-2005
115
22
1500
2006-present
117
23
1100
Source: SFFAII, 2007
Port Sampling
Port sampling data was gathered in General Santos
City Fishport Complex (GSCFPC)
Period Covered: July 2009 – June 2010
Contribution of Different Gears
Catch Composition: HL
Length Class: HL
Observed Length Frequencies of YFT Caught by Handline
in General Santos City
12000
10000
2006
6000
2007
2008
4000
2009
2010
2000
Observed Length Frequencies of BET Caught by Handline
in General Santos City
0
900
800
700
Observed Frequencies
Observed Frequencies
8000
600
500
2006
2007
400
300
200
100
0
2008
2009
2010
Monthly Effort: HL
Effort (days)
20,000
35
Days per trip
18,000
30
16,000
Effort (Days)
12,000
20
10,000
15
8,000
6,000
Days per trip
25
14,000
10
4,000
5
2,000
0
2006-1
0
2007-1
2008-1
2009-1
2010-1
Monthly effort (days) and days/trip for the General Santos City Handline fleet, 2006 – 2010
Effort and CPUE: HL
180
160
YFT CPUE (kgs/day)
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2006-1
2007-1
2008-1
2009-1
2010-1
Monthly Yellowfin CPUE for the General Santos City Handline fleet, 2006 - 2010
Threats to the handline fishery in General Santos
• competition from other fisheries;
• declining stocks;
• ineffective management arrangements;
• lack of accurate data; and
• environmental degradation
Key Challenges in the handline fishery in General Santos
• Decreasing catch by handline vessel affecting the
supply of fish to tuna canneries;
• Ineffective fish handling techniques onboard vessels
resulting in poor quality product;
• Difficulty in competing in the international market of
tuna;
• Lack of effective registration and licensing system;
• Lack of access to fishing grounds outside Philippine
national waters.
Opportunities in the handline fishing sector
- Increasing the capacity within tuna cooperatives in
handling of fish onboard vessels;
- Exploring options to promote certification and
labeling of tuna products for international trade;
- More active participation of the industry in domestic
policy discussions; and
- Bilateral and regional fishing access negotiations.
Research and training needs in General Santos
- A study on the efficiency of chilling systems for handline
fishing vessels;
- An investigation of carrying capacity of Sarangani Bay,
including spawning grounds and season, stock assessment,
habitat use, and use of fish aggregating devices. (FADs);
- Policy implications of FADs in Sarangani Bay;
- Tuna marketing system or value chain study;
- Workshop on best fishing practices and development of
- manuals in local dialects; and
- Training on handling of tuna on board vessels, tuna quality
classification, traceability of fish and food safety.