20 MARCH 2026 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG through official consultations with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region III and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sasmuan, which provided fisheries data, CRM plans (2023–2028), and insights on local aquaculture practices. Two field surveys were conducted on April 9 and May 3, 2025, across selected areas of the SPCW. These surveys focused on photographic documentation of anthropogenic threats (destructive fishing gear and mangrove cutting) and visual identification of crustacean species, including Scylla spp. (Figure 4), Portunus spp. (Figure 5), Penaeus spp. (Figure 6), and Stomatopoda spp. (Figure 7). Captured images were analyzed and associated with ecological risks using available secondary data such as CPUE trends, biodiversity indices, and species distribution records. This integrated method allowed for the spatial linking of human activities to potential impacts on local crustacean populations. Anthropogenic Harvesting Pressures: The Impact of Sudsud, Bumbun, and Pasabal Traditional fishing methods such as bumbun, sudsud, and pasabal, once emblematic of artisanal livelihood, have emerged as significant anthropogenic stressors in the SPCW. While rooted FIGURE 4. Scylla spp. Mud Crab at the Sasmuan Fish Port. Mud crab farming often involves fattening wild-caught juveniles in brackish ponds — a practice known as “grow-out” — common in coastal towns like Sasmuan. Photo credit: K.P. Taguberi. FIGURE 5. Freshly caught blue swimming crabs (Portunus pelagicus) laid out by local fishers in Sasmuan. Photo credit: H.N. Gasmen. FIGURE 6. Freshly caught Penaeus spp., including tiger prawn and whiteleg shrimp, are among the top aquaculture exports of the Philippines, contributing significantly to coastal livelihoods. Photo credit: H.N. Gasmen. FIGURE 7. A Fisherman holding a freshly caught Mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda spp.). Though not yet widely farmed, mantis shrimps are gaining interest for aquaculture due to their high protein content and market price in gourmet seafood markets. Photo credit: H.N. Gasmen. FIGURE 8. Bumbun: Traditional mangrove branch trap for crabs and fish. Bumbun traps are a passive fishing method often used in mud crab aquaculture to catch mature crabs ready for market, reducing the need for active trawling. Photo credit: H.N. Gasmen.
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