Settlement traps and harvesting methods for spiny lobster (Panulirus spp.) puerulus fishery in Palawan Island, the Philippines

The attractive price for spiny lobster (Panulirus spp.) puerulus has recently encouraged many fishers to engage in its collection as an alternative livelihood at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This booming fishery prompted the investigation of the settlement traps, luring/shading materials, trap installation and harvesting methods, and problems encountered in the spiny lobster puerulus fishery in Palawan, Philippines. Reviewed videos posted on social media, personal observation, and data gathered from key informants (KIs) revealed the use of various modified and newly developed settlement traps. The most common were the concrete cylindrical and disc-shaped traps used by 63.33% of the KIs. Some KIs (40%) provided the settlement traps with luring/shading materials like Sargassum thalli. Settlement traps were mostly installed using the stake-hanging method. The harvesting season starts in March and ends in August where the daily collection coincides with the moon phase. Fishers collected settled puerulus through diving or pulling the traps out of the water. However, some issues like unstable prices and the absence of fishing regulations threaten the sustainability of pueruli collection. Hence, the establishment of collection zones, issuance of fishing permits, price regulation, and long-term monitoring to maintain this promising fishery industry is suggested in crafting ordinances. Efficiencies of traps may also be investigated as an additional basis for policy recommendations.