PHILIPPINES 



The production of shrimp and prawns in the Philippines during 

 19^h was 5.8 million pounds. Shrimp are caught by otter and beam trawls 

 operated by vessels of the sampan type. These have wooden hulls and 

 semi-diesel engines. 



The principal fishing grounds are Asia Gulf, Carigara Bay, 

 Guiraaras Strait, Malampaya Sound, Ilanila Bay, Magueda Bay, Rogay Gulf, 

 Samar Sea, San Miguel Bay, Sulu Sea, and Visayan Sea. 



The catch of shrimp in recent years has ranged as follows (as 

 noted from United States Foreign Service Despatches): 



Thousand pounds 



1952 2,891 



1953 3,568 

 195ii 5,823 



The increase in the catch of shrimp vjas apparently due to a 

 gradual Increase in the number of trawlers fishing for shrinp. The 

 catch statistics are not too reliable, since it is known that some dried 

 shrimp marketed in the country vjere included in the data. 



The predominant species taken are: Penaeus indicus, P. 

 canaliculatus , Metapenaeus af finis , M. monoceros , and Penaeus monodon. 



The shrimp vary in size from 2-2/3 inches to 10-1/2 inches 

 from tip of the rostrum to tip of telson (stretched) and range from h 

 to 110 v;hole shrimp to the pound. 



Among the gear used in the shrimp fishery are pocketseine nets, 

 cast nets, push nets, skim nets, stalce nets, dip nets, drag nets, (beam 

 trawl and otter travjl) pots, and gill nets. 



There are no shrimp canneries in the country and there is only 

 one commercial shrimp freezer in Manila. Exports of shrimp consist 

 exclusively of the small Bagoong Alamang or salted shrimp (nysis larval 

 forms of the family Penaeidae, genus Penaeus, and adult Palaemonidae of 

 the species Palaemon lusonensis) and are destined principally for Guara 

 and Hawaii. Statistics for the years 1952-55 are as follows (based on 

 materials in the United States Foreign Service Despatches): 



Pounds 



^9 



