Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines

Abstract Background Ethnobotanical knowledge about plant roles in fisheries is crucial for sustainable resource management. Local ecological knowledge helps understand dynamics of the lake ecosystem. Fishers use plants based on availability and characteristics while adapting to the changes in the en...

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Main Authors: Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza, Baiba Prūse, Aimee Ciriaco, Amelia Mendoza, Harvey Ciriaco, Cynthia Buen, Julie Joyce Pua, Francesco Primavera, Giulia Mattalia, Renata Sõukand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00749-x
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author Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza
Baiba Prūse
Aimee Ciriaco
Amelia Mendoza
Harvey Ciriaco
Cynthia Buen
Julie Joyce Pua
Francesco Primavera
Giulia Mattalia
Renata Sõukand
author_facet Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza
Baiba Prūse
Aimee Ciriaco
Amelia Mendoza
Harvey Ciriaco
Cynthia Buen
Julie Joyce Pua
Francesco Primavera
Giulia Mattalia
Renata Sõukand
author_sort Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ethnobotanical knowledge about plant roles in fisheries is crucial for sustainable resource management. Local ecological knowledge helps understand dynamics of the lake ecosystem. Fishers use plants based on availability and characteristics while adapting to the changes in the environment. Studying fishery related uses of plants and algae and the challenges interconnected with them from local perspectives can provide insights into their beneficial uses and impacts to the ecosystem. Methods The study investigates the botanical knowledge of three fishing villages in Laguna Lake or Laguna de Bay (LB), Philippines, including Buhangin, Sampiruhan, and Mabato-Azufre, each with varying degrees of industrialization. The ethnobotanical study, which gathered 27 interviews between June 2022 and July 2024, included plant collection with the help of local collaborators, including local fishers as research guides. Results Fishers in LB highlighted positive and negative plant-fishing interactions. The most frequently mentioned plant applications were fish habitat and fish hiding places. Fish food, spawning sites, conservation, and a number of challenges such as navigational concerns and aquaculture fish deaths had been previously reported in local use reports. The remaining observations provide new insights into plant-fishing interactions, including indicators of food quality and food sources for fish, the decrease in the action of waves, and how plants help in improving the quality of the water. Conclusion These results highlight that the knowledge of fishers regarding the ecosystem in which they conduct their fishing activities provides baseline information about the positive and negative relationships between plants and fishing activities in the region, which is vital for further understanding its biodiversity and ecosystem interactions. It is crucial to consider fisher knowledge and involve them as equal partners in conservation efforts of LB.
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spelling doaj-art-0dad6f41e1824a2386f04158e2a0ddec2025-08-20T03:00:39ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692024-12-0120111810.1186/s13002-024-00749-xFishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, PhilippinesJimlea Nadezhda Mendoza0Baiba Prūse1Aimee Ciriaco2Amelia Mendoza3Harvey Ciriaco4Cynthia Buen5Julie Joyce Pua6Francesco Primavera7Giulia Mattalia8Renata Sõukand9Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of VeniceMAREI Center, University College CorkTagalog Fisher Community of Mabato Asufre PangilTagalog Fisher Community of Mabato Asufre PangilTagalog Fisher Community of Mabato Asufre PangilCity Agricultural Services DepartmentDepartment of Natural and Applied Sciences, College of Sciences, Isabela State UniversityAgenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e Protezione Ambientale – Veneto (ARPAV)Institut de Ciència I Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB)Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of VeniceAbstract Background Ethnobotanical knowledge about plant roles in fisheries is crucial for sustainable resource management. Local ecological knowledge helps understand dynamics of the lake ecosystem. Fishers use plants based on availability and characteristics while adapting to the changes in the environment. Studying fishery related uses of plants and algae and the challenges interconnected with them from local perspectives can provide insights into their beneficial uses and impacts to the ecosystem. Methods The study investigates the botanical knowledge of three fishing villages in Laguna Lake or Laguna de Bay (LB), Philippines, including Buhangin, Sampiruhan, and Mabato-Azufre, each with varying degrees of industrialization. The ethnobotanical study, which gathered 27 interviews between June 2022 and July 2024, included plant collection with the help of local collaborators, including local fishers as research guides. Results Fishers in LB highlighted positive and negative plant-fishing interactions. The most frequently mentioned plant applications were fish habitat and fish hiding places. Fish food, spawning sites, conservation, and a number of challenges such as navigational concerns and aquaculture fish deaths had been previously reported in local use reports. The remaining observations provide new insights into plant-fishing interactions, including indicators of food quality and food sources for fish, the decrease in the action of waves, and how plants help in improving the quality of the water. Conclusion These results highlight that the knowledge of fishers regarding the ecosystem in which they conduct their fishing activities provides baseline information about the positive and negative relationships between plants and fishing activities in the region, which is vital for further understanding its biodiversity and ecosystem interactions. It is crucial to consider fisher knowledge and involve them as equal partners in conservation efforts of LB.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00749-xLocal ecological knowledgeLocal fishers knowledgeTraditional ecological knowledgeTraditional fisheries knowledgeEthnobiologyEthnobotany
spellingShingle Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza
Baiba Prūse
Aimee Ciriaco
Amelia Mendoza
Harvey Ciriaco
Cynthia Buen
Julie Joyce Pua
Francesco Primavera
Giulia Mattalia
Renata Sõukand
Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Local ecological knowledge
Local fishers knowledge
Traditional ecological knowledge
Traditional fisheries knowledge
Ethnobiology
Ethnobotany
title Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
title_full Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
title_fullStr Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
title_full_unstemmed Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
title_short Fishery and ecology-related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along Laguna Lake, Philippines
title_sort fishery and ecology related knowledge about plants among fishing communities along laguna lake philippines
topic Local ecological knowledge
Local fishers knowledge
Traditional ecological knowledge
Traditional fisheries knowledge
Ethnobiology
Ethnobotany
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00749-x
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