Cathrina F. Bagarinao, Ressette Thea E. Sarrosa, April Rose S. Yso (May 2010)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
A market survey was done in the main market of La Paz, Iloilo City. La Paz Public Market employs more than forty vendors in the fish section alone, all of whom get their fish products within the vicinity of Iloilo. The Visayan Sea, being called the center of the center of biodiversity in the study, is expected to include a large biodiversity of fish, and the market is one of the best places to assess the fisheries of Panay. This study aims to assess the fish market of La Paz Public Market, Iloilo, in terms of the fish species abundance. The vendors in situ were interviewed for the fish lengths, prices and fish sources every market day. The fish species sold by every vendor was listed down and were identified by order, family and species. The number of fish species surveyed within the months of September until December of 2009 indicates a large diversity of fish even considering that the fishes the vendors sell in the market were already chosen species from another larger source. Like all other markets, vendors in the site also occasionally sell immature fish. The fish market prices were unstable during the period of study from mid-September to mid-December of 2009.