Stock assessment of the marine ornamental Vagabond Butterflyfish Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pisces, Chaetodontidae) and the Indo-Pacific sergeant Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) from Iligan Bay, Southern Philippines

Nelfa D. Canini; Ephrime B. Metillo

doi:10.22034/ijab.v14i1.2433

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Nelfa D. Canini
nelfa.canini9@gmail.com
Department of Natural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences/College of Education, Misamis University, Ozamiz City 7200, Philippines.
Ephrime B. Metillo Department of Marine Science, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Bonifacio Ave., Tibanga, Iligan City, Philippines

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): February

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February 10, 2026

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The success of fisheries depends critically on the state of the fish stocks. In this study, a total of 1,188 fish individuals belonging to two species of Abudefduf vaigiensis (711), Chaetodon vagabundus (477) were investigated based on the samples collected from the waters of Iligan Bay, Southern Philippines. Population parameters were assessed using length-frequency data with FiSAT II software. The results showed positive correlations between length and weight. The values of b significantly (P<0.000) increased from 2.55 in C. vagabundus to 2.82 in A. vaigiensis. The growth and mortality parameters asymptotic length (L_?), annual growth rate (K), annual total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F) and exploitation rate (E) were 15.75 cm, 0.430, 1.60, 1.24, 0.28 and 0.18 for A. vaigiensis and 14.70 cm, 0.700, 2.60, 1.73, 1.09 and 0.39 for C. vagabundus, respectively. A bimodal recruitment pattern of unequal strength was observed for both species. The result of the virtual population analysis (VPA) routine showed that most of the small and young fish were prone to natural losses, while bigger fish were mostly caught by the fisherman. Finally, the maximum sustainable yield (E_max) for the two species was higher than the exploitation level, indicating that these two ornamental reef fishes were in good condition in Iligan Bay.

Canini, N. D., & Metillo, E. B. (2026). Stock assessment of the marine ornamental Vagabond Butterflyfish Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pisces, Chaetodontidae) and the Indo-Pacific sergeant Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) from Iligan Bay, Southern Philippines. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 14(1), 91–103. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v14i1.2433

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