Shark Search Indo-Pacific

ABSTRACT of the Field Guide to Sharks and Rays in the Philippines

There is limited reporting on each of the shark species in the Philippines, particularly in terms of species-specific catch and effort, landing volume and trade data. There is also a serious lack of information on the biological parameters of shark and ray species, on the identification of most species, and on the capacity to manage the resource as a whole. These limitations on the knowledge of sharks and rays, and of fishing practices and impacts in many of the fishing grounds in the Philippines, hinders efforts to implement appropriate management measures on the ground. There is a need to improve the management of directed fisheries of sharks and its relatives, as well as certain multispecies fisheries in which they constitute as by-catch. Therefore, to improve knowledge about the state of shark and ray stocks, and to facilitate the collection of the necessary information, and to implement effective management, adequate resources and support systems are required. “Pating Ka Ba?" is an important first step by providing an identification guide to sharks, batoids, and chimaeras of the Philippines. This guide will be a useful reference to enhance the understanding of the species and the capacity to manage them in the Philippines.