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Title: Species Occurrence of the Landed Catch of Sardine (Sardinella spp.) in

Balayan Bay, Batangas

Name of Authors: Jolivette Edry G. Dumandan, Nikka Mae F. Rosario, Queenie Elaine
C. Sac, Diana Teresa G. Salvatera and Catherine C. Carson, Alicia
Ely J. Pagulayan

Department of Affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Santo

Tomas, Manila 1015

Logo: UST – left (facing the poster) Science – right

Contents

Introduction:

Among the rich variety of fishes that are caught in the Philippine archipelago are
the different species of small pelagic fishes of the genus Sardinella. There are seven
species found in the Philippines, including Sardinella tawilis which is the only freshwater
sardine that is endemic in Taal, Batangas.

Balayan Bay has been one of the landing areas of Sardinella spp. A locally known
sardine Manamsi has been abundant in this area during certain months. According to the
vendors from the local market, this Sardinella species is a juvenile Don Pilas, a local name
given S. lemuru.

This present investigation, therefore, aimed to identify the different species of

Sardinella that are caught in Balayan Bay, Batangas using morphometric and meristic
analysis, and if the locally known sardine “Manamsi” correctly identified as Sardinella
lemuru. This study can contribute information on species diversity in Balayan Bay. It also
provides basic knowledge for the proper management of the species to ensure its
sustainability, and to provide information for future researches.

Methodology:
(please see attached file)
Results and Discussion:

Don Pilas was observed during the months of March, April, July, August, October
and December while Manamsi was present for the whole sampling duration except during
the months of October and December. The abundance of the species may be due to the
selection of fisherman (personal communication).

A B

Fig. 1. (A) Don Pilas (B) Manamsi

Both Don Pilas and Manamsi have a silvery gray color and an elongated
fusiform body shape. The presence of a distinct black spot at the hind border of gill
cover, faint golden spot behind the gill opening followed by a faint golden midlateral line
were observed for the both samples, which are distinct characteristics of Sardinella
lemuru.

Fig. 2. Scale Morphology (A) Don Pilas (B) Manamsi

The scales of both Don Pilas and Manamsi have discontinuous striae and circular growth
rings in their embedded parts and continuous striae and few small perforations in their
exposed parts.
 90

80

70

60

50
Don Pilas
40 Manamsi

30

20

10

0
HL to SL (%) BD to SL (%) HW to HL (%)

Fig. 3. Morphometric ratio of each parameter in percent; HL (head length), HW (head

width), SL (standard length), TL (total length), BD (body depth)

For the first ratio, according to Willette & Santos (2013), the head length (HL) of
Sardinella lemuru is 26-29% of its standard length (SL). All the samples of Manamsi and
Don Pilas fall within the range except for some samples of Don Pilas for the months of
April, August and December. Previous studies did not show a fixed ratio for the second
ratio, head width (HW) to head length (HL), of Sardinella lemuru. The morphometric ratio
of HW to HL of Manamsi and Don Pilas samples were 55.16-65.68% and 55.60-69.63%,
respectively. Lastly, Whitehead (1985) stated that Sardinella lemuru has a body depth
(BD) less than 30% of its standard length (SL) and this was met by all of the Don Pilas
and Manamsi samples from the 10-month sampling.
 250

200

150

100
Don Pilas
Manamsi
50

0
DFR LGR
-50

-100

Fig. 4. Average of the meristic counts of both samples; DFR (dorsal fin rays), LGR (lower
gill rakers)

The number of lower gill rakers (LGR) and dorsal fin rays (DFR) of both Don Pilas and
Manamsi fall within the range ( 77-188 LGR and 13-21 DFR) stated by Whitehead (1985)
for Sardinella lemuru.
 Paired N t Sig. (2-tailed)
Variables
Pair 1 HL to SL (Don 126 5.186 .000
Pilas) & HL to
SL (Manamsi)
Pair 2 BD to SL (Don 126 1.081 .282
Pilas) & BD to
SL (Manamsi)
Pair 3 HW to HL (Don 126 4.661 .000
Pilas) & HW to
HL (Manamsi)
Pair 4 DFR (Don 126 1.223 .223
Pilas) & DFR
(Manamsi)
Pair 5 LGR (Don 126 1.624 .107
Pilas) & LGR
(Manamsi)

Table 1. Paired samples correlation of the different parameters; HL (head length), HW

(head width), SL (standard length), BD (body depth), DFR (dorsal fin rays), LGR (lower
gill rakers)

A number of body measurements were collected and converted to ratio

measurements to distinguish species that are morphologically similar but often differ
significantly in the proportions but not in their qualitative characters. A paired t-test was
used as a statistical tool to study the variation in the species’ characters. A p-value greater
than 0.05 may suggest that there is no statistical difference between Don Pilas and
Manamsi in meristic counts and body depth to standard length ratio parameters.
However, head length to standard length, and head width to head length parameters
obtained a p-value less than 0.05, which may suggest that, these parameters have
significant difference.
Conclusion and Recommendation:

For the whole sampling period, only Sardinella lemuru was caught and sold in the different
markets bordering Balayan Bay. Based on the morphological and meristic analysis
performed in the present study, results indicated that the locally known “Manamsi” is
Sardinella lemuru. This was verified by National Fisheries Research and Development
Institute and by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Additionally, the abundance
of Don Pilas and Manamsi varies in every month.

The following recommendations are given to improve further the study: (1) to perform a
year-round sampling of the different Sardinella spp. (2) to test the samples at a molecular
level by using genetic markers and (3) to consider more morphometric and meristic
parameters in analyzing the samples.

Acknowledgement:

Heartfelt gratitude is extended to the National Fisheries Research and Development

Institute and to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Main Office and Region
4A) for the verification of our samples, Kuya Greg of SRL for assisting us with our
laboratory needs, our families for being our driving force in finishing this study and to the
Lord Almighty for helping us in the completion of this research.
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