This profile covers the  Lutjanus species (snappers) fishery in the Philippines Fishery Management Area 5 (FMA - 5), encompassing the waters surrounding the province of  Palawan including the Calamianes Island Group (CIG), from Mindoro Strait, Cuyo Pass, West Sulu Sea, and western Palawan waters. FMAs were established in January 2019 (Fisheries Administrative Order or FAO 263 - 2019) to focus on an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. 

In the Philippines, the fisheries targeting Lutjanus species (snappers) are identified as multi-species and multi-gear fisheries. About 56 species of the Family Lutjanidae are native to the Philippines (see FishBase).  Lutjanids are collectively referred to as snappers or “maya-maya” in the trade  (see Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA; OpenSTAT).  The official catch records are reported as an aggregate value under that common name and not separated by species. In the official national fisheries statistics,  snappers are collectively grouped under “demersals”  (e.g., NSAP Atlas, Santos et al. 2017)).   In FMA - 5, additional local names include "dalag dalag" or "balung saging".