Post by admin on Aug 5, 2014 12:07:41 GMT 8
Bicol’s rare freshwater fish ‘sinarapan’ faces extinction unless gov’t intervenes
Ben Rosario
August 4, 2014
Bicol’s other natural wonder, but one appreciated by taste buds and not by eyesight, is becoming endangered and needs government help to be preserved.
AGRI Partylist Rep. Delphine Gan Lee said “sinarapan” or “tabios,” a “freshwater wealth and wonder ” of the Bicol region, is in danger of extinction from lakes in Camarines Sur unless the local government intervenes to carry out measures to protect this rare fish species.
Gan Lee filed House Bill 3791 seeking to create the Center for Conservation of Sinarapan and provide measures for its protection.
“Probably one of the most unusual freshwater fishes found anywhere in the world, the sinarapan or tabios is endemic to Lake Buhi and Lake Bato in the province of Camarines Sur,” Lee said.
The sinarapan (mistichthys luzonensis), the world’s smallest commercially-harvested fish located only in the Philippines, which was discovered in 1902, is particularly endemic to Lake Buhi, Lake Bato, Bicol River and other bodies of water in Camarines Sur.
Sinarapan, a type of goby, is transparent, except for the black eyes, and has an average length of 12.5 millimeters. Males are smaller than females.
Extensive research showed the biggest specimen only grew as big as 15 millimeters with an average length of only 12.5 millimeters.
Sinarapan is unique among the fish species in the world and is the only species of goby known to exist in freshwater.
Gan Lee said sinarapan adults also retain many characteristics of the larval form, a nature’s way or strategy to cope with the rigors of water life which has been of great interest to scientists.
To catch the fish, fishermen first cut and trim a bamboo stalk where a palm leaf is wrapped around the tip or top before it is next anchored to the bed of the lake with the leaf functioning as a beacon and trap.
Sinarapan, an important source of food for Bicolano fishermen, are caught in big quantities and then dried to make a meal called “badi” or “daing” in Tagalog-speaking areas of the country.
It is fried in oil or boiled with vegetables.
“However, sinarapan-badi is seldom served in the native restaurants. Years of neglect and abuse like overfishing, among others, have seriously depleted the species’ population, which are found nowhere in the world,” Lee lamented.
Studies conducted by Dr. Victor Soliman, founder of the Sinarapan Conservation Initiative in Bicol University in Tabaco, Albay, showed that the fish can still be found in Lakes Buhi and Bato in Camarines Sur.
The fish now thrives in Lakes Manapao, Katugday and Makuwaw, which are mountain lakes in Mt. Asog in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
“This bill seeks to conserve the sinarapan species through the creation of the Center and by providing measures and prohibitions that will aid in the preservation efforts for this national treasure,” she said.
Under HB3791, the proposed Center is authorized to organize and establish a technical staff composed of qualified personnel and may hire the services of experts and consultants, both local and foreign, enlist the services of government officials and employees as may be necessary.
The Center, among other powers and functions as provided in the proposed statute, may initiate programs and activities geared towards encouraging the active participation and involvement of the private sector and the academe in the conservation efforts of the Center.
The Center shall also be an office under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
HB 3791 has been referred to the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources chaired by Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (NUP, Cebu) for consideration and action.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/bicols-rare-freshwater-fish-sinarapan-faces-extinction-unless-govt-intervenes/
Ben Rosario
August 4, 2014
Bicol’s other natural wonder, but one appreciated by taste buds and not by eyesight, is becoming endangered and needs government help to be preserved.
AGRI Partylist Rep. Delphine Gan Lee said “sinarapan” or “tabios,” a “freshwater wealth and wonder ” of the Bicol region, is in danger of extinction from lakes in Camarines Sur unless the local government intervenes to carry out measures to protect this rare fish species.
Gan Lee filed House Bill 3791 seeking to create the Center for Conservation of Sinarapan and provide measures for its protection.
“Probably one of the most unusual freshwater fishes found anywhere in the world, the sinarapan or tabios is endemic to Lake Buhi and Lake Bato in the province of Camarines Sur,” Lee said.
The sinarapan (mistichthys luzonensis), the world’s smallest commercially-harvested fish located only in the Philippines, which was discovered in 1902, is particularly endemic to Lake Buhi, Lake Bato, Bicol River and other bodies of water in Camarines Sur.
Sinarapan, a type of goby, is transparent, except for the black eyes, and has an average length of 12.5 millimeters. Males are smaller than females.
Extensive research showed the biggest specimen only grew as big as 15 millimeters with an average length of only 12.5 millimeters.
Sinarapan is unique among the fish species in the world and is the only species of goby known to exist in freshwater.
Gan Lee said sinarapan adults also retain many characteristics of the larval form, a nature’s way or strategy to cope with the rigors of water life which has been of great interest to scientists.
To catch the fish, fishermen first cut and trim a bamboo stalk where a palm leaf is wrapped around the tip or top before it is next anchored to the bed of the lake with the leaf functioning as a beacon and trap.
Sinarapan, an important source of food for Bicolano fishermen, are caught in big quantities and then dried to make a meal called “badi” or “daing” in Tagalog-speaking areas of the country.
It is fried in oil or boiled with vegetables.
“However, sinarapan-badi is seldom served in the native restaurants. Years of neglect and abuse like overfishing, among others, have seriously depleted the species’ population, which are found nowhere in the world,” Lee lamented.
Studies conducted by Dr. Victor Soliman, founder of the Sinarapan Conservation Initiative in Bicol University in Tabaco, Albay, showed that the fish can still be found in Lakes Buhi and Bato in Camarines Sur.
The fish now thrives in Lakes Manapao, Katugday and Makuwaw, which are mountain lakes in Mt. Asog in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
“This bill seeks to conserve the sinarapan species through the creation of the Center and by providing measures and prohibitions that will aid in the preservation efforts for this national treasure,” she said.
Under HB3791, the proposed Center is authorized to organize and establish a technical staff composed of qualified personnel and may hire the services of experts and consultants, both local and foreign, enlist the services of government officials and employees as may be necessary.
The Center, among other powers and functions as provided in the proposed statute, may initiate programs and activities geared towards encouraging the active participation and involvement of the private sector and the academe in the conservation efforts of the Center.
The Center shall also be an office under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
HB 3791 has been referred to the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources chaired by Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (NUP, Cebu) for consideration and action.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/bicols-rare-freshwater-fish-sinarapan-faces-extinction-unless-govt-intervenes/