Preliminary Assessment of the Seagrass Resources in the Northern Philippines

概要

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Seagrass resources in the northern Philippines affected by the warm, nutrient rich water of the Kuroshio Current were assessed. Four of the major fish producing municipalities of the province were examined with the aim of identifying species composition and relative abundance. The information will be used as a tool in managing the coastal resources of the region in which productivity is fast declining due to increasing anthropogenic activity which threaten the coastal community. Results show that there are six dominant genera thriving in the northern Philippines, namely Syringodium, Cymodecea, Thallasia, Enhalus, Halodule and Halophila. The abundance of each species differs from one area to another. Seagrass beds of the four municipalities have a total area of 367 ha of which the municipality of Sta Ana has the greatest coverage area (359 ha).