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Fishery Bulletin 104(3) 



gun effort in this area declined from August to Febru- 

 ary (67 to 17 person hours/month, respectively). Spear 

 gun effort on the northern fishing grounds averaged 

 36 ±6 person hours/month. The total spear gun yield 

 from the northern fishing grounds was 269 kg (Table 1), 

 dominated by reef-associated species (44%, Carangidae). 

 Spear gun effort on the western fishing grounds was 

 much lower, averaging only 5 ±3 person hours/month. 

 It was highest in November (23 person hours/month) 

 (Fig. 2C). The total spear gun yield from the western 

 fishing grounds was only 19 kg (Table 1), dominated by 

 reef species (62%, mainly Scaridae and octopus). Spear 

 gun effort near the boundary of Apo Reserve was also 

 rather low but was higher on average than on the west- 

 ern fishing grounds (mean 15 ±5 person hours/month). 

 It peaked in October (44 person hours/month) (Fig. 2C). 

 The total recorded spear gun yield near the reserve was 

 118 kg (Table 1), dominated by reef species (56%, mainly 

 Scaridae and octopus). 



Spear gun effort did not differ significantly between 

 seasons (ANOVA, F, i,^=2.12, P=0.16) but differed sig- 

 nificantly among fishing grounds (ANOVA, F., j„=14.26, 

 P<0.001). The season by fishing ground interaction was 

 not significant (ANOVA, F., i„=1.77, P=0.20). Spear gun 

 effort on the northern fishing grounds was significantly 

 higher than on the western fishing grounds (Tukey's 

 test, Q'g jg=7.41, P< 0.001) and the fishing grounds near 

 Apo Reserve (Tukey's test, ^g jg=4.96, P<0.01). Spear 

 gun effort, however, did not differ significantly between 

 the fishing grounds near Apo Reserve and the western 

 fishing grounds of Apo Island. 



Trap fishing Bamboo fish traps were used on the north- 

 ern fishing grounds only, and only in July (SW monsoon). 

 The total trap effort was 126 trap days (4 fish traps set 

 for 14 days, 7 for 10 days) with a total yield of 32 kg 

 (Table 1). The yield was dominated by reef planktivores 

 (85% Acanthuridae and Caesionidae). 



Contributions of fishing gears and fishing grounds to 

 overall fishing effort, yield, and income 



Among the three principal fishing gear, most fishing 

 effort was spent with hook and line, followed by gill nets, 

 then with spear guns (Table 1). Hook-and-line fishing, 

 therefore, contributed the greatest yield and highest 

 income, accounting for 66% of the total yield and 72% of 

 the total income recorded. Bamboo fish traps contributed 

 the least yield and income (Table 1). All types of fishing 

 occurred mainly on the northern fishing grounds. The 

 northern fishing grounds accounted for 92%, 52%, 63%, 

 and 100% of the total effort for hook-and-line gear, gill 

 nets, spear guns, and fish traps, respectively. Accord- 

 ingly, the northern fishing grounds accounted for the 

 vast majority of total yield and total income for all types 

 of fishing gears (Table 1). 



On the other hand, fishing effort was often lowest on 

 the fishing grounds near Apo Reserve (Table 1). The 

 fishing grounds near the reserve accounted for only 

 3% and 15%) of the total effort spent on hook-and-line 

 and gillnet fishing, respectively. These fishing grounds 

 contributed only 4% to the total yield and total income 

 from hook and line fishing, and only 21% to the total 



