FishSource

Philippines blue swimming crab - bottom-set gillnet & pot/trap (PACPI) (FIP)

Last Updated: 2025-02-19

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2013-01-28

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc. (PACPI)

Stock Profile Link
Blue swimming crab - Western Visayan Sea

Comments:

The last stage 4 result is now 12-24 months old with recent stage 3 results reported within the past 6 months. The FIP drops to C rating.

1. FIP Development	May 15	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 May 2015 — MSC pre-assessment made public 16 April 2013 — Fishsource profile for Blue swimming crab - stock units undefined (Country: PH; Gear: TX, GN, FPO, SDN;) [FIP: Philippines blue swimming crab, PACPI] 1 January 2009 — Fish Source profile published
2. FIP Launch	Jan 09	Confirmation of project participants 1 January 2009 — PACPI has 6 members: Blue Star Food Products Philippines, Central Seafoods Incorporated, Heron Point Philippines, Inc., Phil-Union Frozen Foods, Inc., RGE Agridev Corporation, Sigma International, Inc.
2. FIP Launch	Jun 23	Workplan made public 1 June 2023 — Updated 2023-2026 Workplan 15 June 2018 — Updated workplan published 1 January 2017 — Workplan 2017-2018 1 January 2015 — Annual workplan 2015-2016 28 January 2013 — Annual workplan 2013
3. FIP Implementation	Sep 24	FIP activities undertaken 1 September 2024 — The FIP has produced a technical report on the preliminary results for two sampling areas using data from May 2022- April 2023; overfishing is occuring. 1 September 2024 — The FIP continues to support hatchery operations; between June-July 2024 the hatchery had successful natural spawning and dispersal of 277,862,750 zoea of the blue swimming crab. 26 March 2024 — BFAR held a 3-day workshop focused on enhancing data mapping for the BSC fishery, aiming to establish a robust database, improve data collection and transparency and address overfishing concern through stakeholder collaboration. 1 September 2023 — The FIP's second stock assessment for the 2021-2022 season was published and shows an improvement to the SPR by 4%. 29 July 2023 — The FIP continues to support the Thai-style hatchery in Bantayan, Cebu where the FIP dispersed 455 million zoea in 2023. This project produced three research topics presented by the FIP at the Philippines Association of Marine Sciences (PAMS) National Symposium 2023: "Saving the Eggs of the BSC," "Hatching Rate Maximization Strategy of the Berried-BSC," and "Zooplankton Community Structure of BSC Enhancement." 1 July 2023 — The Municipality of Bantayan deployed a Thai-style hatchery, releasing over 80 million zoea into coastal waters.The project's impact assessment is ongoing, encompassing various biological and chemical parameters. 1 May 2023 — The BSC working group conducted two workshops in 2022 and 2023 to identify priority activities from the BSC-NMP that can be completed by 2025, intending to implement them through the Adopt-A-Village platform, considering impacts on BSC resources, other species and the environment, as well as fisheries management principles and social interventions. 1 January 2021 — Progress report conducted on the genetic assessment of blue swimming crabs in the Philippines 3 February 2020 — A study on blue swimming crab stock enhancement is ongoing 1 February 2020 — The result of the Spatial, Intensity, Consequence Analysis (SICA) showed that the intensity of the blue swimming crab fishing in the province is at the maximum level 1 January 2019 — Work is in progress in order to implement rebuilding strategies - production of crab juveniles 30 April 2018 — The bycatch composition of bottom set gillnet for blue swimming crab in Batad, Northern Iloilo were monitored in November 2017 to April 2018. 1 September 2017 — Stock assessment of BSC published (Bantayan SPR FInal report) and recommendation made for management of fishery 1 July 2017 — Fish catch data collection on gear efficiency in Dounajon Bank, Bobol 27 January 2017 — MOU agreed for species-specific stock assessment in 2018. 1 December 2016 — Results of the value added analysis presented to stakeholders and government 30 November 2016 — MoU signed between PACPI and University of the Philippines-Visayas to encourage student participation. 24 July 2016 — PACPI reseeds crabs in Negros 10 June 2016 — PACPI pilot project on spawning potential ratio resulted in successful stock assessment in Bohol's Danajon Reef. 1 December 2015 — Draft traceability system for monthly records completed 30 May 2014 — PACPI reseeded a total of 56,600 crablets in Sagay City (Carbin Reef and Suyac Ecopark), in the province of Negros Occidental 1 January 2013 — Drafting of the implementing rules and regulations of the regulatory measures 1 July 2012 — FIP supports the Iloilo Province ordinance banning the catching and trading of BSC less than 11-cm carapace width and berried individuals. 23 March 2011 — Council on 23 March 2011, and member companies were requested to add minimum size to their sourcing policies that took effect on 1 July 2011. This was to ensure that the harvested crabs have the chance to first lay eggs at least once before being caught.
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Mar 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 March 2023 — Increase to PI 3.2.3 - Three-year audit conducted. A monitoring, control and surveillance system has been implemented in the fishery and enforcement measures are in place. 1 March 2023 — Increase to PI 3.1.2; Three-year audit conducted. The Fisheries Code identifies clear roles and responsibilities for BFAR. Within the BSC-NMP the roles and responsibilities of each member of the council are explicitly defined and well understood. 11 February 2021 — BMT score 1.2.2 increase; The Scientific Advisory Group of FMA 11 has recommended biological reference points, harvest strategies, and harvest control rules 11 February 2021 — BMT score 3.2.2 increase; The BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 263 Series of 2019 (Establishment of Fisheries Management Areas (FMA) for the Conservation and Management of Fisheries in Philippine Waters) outlines the decision-making process on the ground. 26 February 2020 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.2 - Harvest conrol rules were drafted vis-a-vis the reference points for the management of blue swimming crab in the Visayan Sea. 24 February 2020 — Increase in BMT score 2.3.3 - increase in Information on ETP species interacting with blue swimming crab fishery - documented and quantified in the studies of Mesa et. al, 2018; Segurigan, 2018; Mainye et al., 2018. 21 February 2020 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.4; results of the study are the basis for the draft harvest control rules and management interventions to improve the status of the stock 17 August 2018 — Increase in BMT scores PI 2.1.3 and 2.2.3 - target and non-target species are identified and quantified 31 October 2016 — BFAR has already turned over 5,000 crab pots to the select beneficiaries of the Gear Swap Program with new pot design for increased sustainability 30 September 2016 — 2-day survey of crabbing conducted. 5 August 2016 — LGU of Bantayan and Madridejos and BFAR 7 signed the Memorandum of Understanding to implement species-specific assessment of blue swimming crab using the Length-Based Spawning Potential Ration (LB-SPR) in Bantayan Island, Central Visayas. 22 February 2016 — Adoption of crab pots to replace lift nets 1 February 2016 — Consolidation of database based on improved data collection 1 October 2015 — Technical working group for JAO formed 18 February 2014 — Joint administrative order enacted for a 10.2 cm minimum size, protections for berried females, and gear/fishing area restrictions 1 September 2013 — BFAR and NFARMC officially adopted the Philippines BSC Management Plan framework 1 March 2013 — Implementing measures drafted and public consultation scheduled 17 September 2012 — The National Management Plan for the Philippine blue swimming crabs is adopted 1 November 2011 — On 1 November 2011, the NFI Crab Council adopted a new sustainability policy that will restrict the purchasing of female crabs bearing eggs or “berried” females. The goal of this policy is to improve the crab population in Indonesia and the Philippines by giving berried females a chance to release their eggs
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public