Production and trade of Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in selected Municipalities of Bohol, Philippines

Abstract

Market survey of Napoleon wrasse is needed to gather and analyze the data of this species in the market. Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) locally known as “Mameng” is a small but significant component in fish trading. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Napoleon wrasse trading through market surveys in the selected municipalities of Bohol namely the municipality of Calape, Getafe, and Tubigon, as basis for conservation measures. Descriptive survey method was used in the study. A one month survey was done to the three municipalities, where the survey took place only every market days. Results showed that the volume of production of Napoleon wrasse in the three municipalities was very low, where the total volume of production of Napoleon wrasse during the one month survey was 1kg in the municipality of Calape, 3.5kg in the municipality of Getafe, and 7kg in the municipality of Tubigon. Most of the fish vendors in the three selected municipalities of Bohol can rarely sell Napoleon wrasse. The volume of consumption of Napoleon wrasse in the three municipalities during the one month survey was relatively high where all of the Napoleon wrasse the fish vendors were selling was sold and sought by buyers. The volume of production of Napoleon wrasse in the three selected municipalities of Bohol was very low due its rarity resulting to its high demand and consumption rate. Among of the three municipalities, only the municipality of Getafe had been identified to have the prevalence of Napoleon wrasse trading.