YIELD ESTIMATES, CATCH, EFFORT AND FISHERY POTENTIAL OF THE REEF FLATIN CAPE-BOLINAO, PHILIPPINES

Catch, fishing effort and yield estimates of the Cape Bolinao reef fla t fishery in Lingayen Gulf, Philippines are provided, based on data co llected from May 1987 to April 1988. The dynamics of the dominant spec ies, the rabbitfish Siganus fuscescens, suggest that such fisheries ar e capable of maintaining a high production in spite of heavy fishing p ressure. However, yield comparisons with those of other reef fisheries in the Indo-Pacific region, along with characteristics of the catch a nd the use of multiple gear types, suggest that current extraction rat es should not be increased.