591


ABSTRACT.     

Portunus pelagicus





              

          








Key words: 
Situación de los pescadores de cangrejos en el norte de Catanduanes, Filipinas, y sus perspectivas
sobre las políticas y planes nacionales para el cangrejo azul
RESUMEN. 

Portunus
pelagicus





   


Status of crabbers in northern Catanduanes, Philippines, and their
perspectives on national policies and plans for the blue swimming crab

1
Recie B. Bonaos 
Maria Mojena Gonzales-Plasus 
Marine and
Fishery Sciences
MAFIS














Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)


     




     






   
Portunus pelagicus


      
      


     
      





     




 


     
    









    
  
      
      
   
   
    Charybdis feriatus
 
P. pelagicus






      


          





Palabras clave: 
Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 
       
    





    



   














Study sites







Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)

       
     


     



Data collection
     
     
    






     


      
     
      






 
     
      





Data analysis
     

 


  
      






       
      

      
     
    

    





     

  


     


Socioeconomic prole of crabbers
    




Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 595









   

      


     





      


±±

     











     
     
      


±
  ±
  ±
 ±
 ±
 ±
  ±
 ±
 ±
 ±
  ±
 ±
 ±
 ±
  ±
 ±
 ±
 ±
Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)

=<









     


      
     



     
       
      













   
      



     












     



       

      

        



      







Crabbers’ awareness towards the NBSCPP
        
     


       


       
      



±
Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 
      
 
      

     



    









      


      
±




       
  
    






    
      

        
        
        
        
        
        

        
        
        

        
        
        
Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)

=
 ±  









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
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
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Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 599


       

     
      
±


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
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       








     
   




   



    

      
     

    



   
    
       

Crabbers’ attitudes towards the NBSCPP






±
     
      




    
    

      
       
     
     
     
        
      
    
       
    
     

        
       
      



 
      






Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)
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=
 ±  
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

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
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±
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














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










Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 



±
      





±




     




     




     
     

     

   
     



±
      
    
       



   
      




    

      
       
 
    
      


   




        
      
     
       
        
       
     





    
      
      


Crabbers’ socioeconomic attributes relation-
ship to their awareness and attitudes toward
the NBSCPP implementation




Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)






    





  
      

   
     
     






      
       
     
       
       
        

      
        
      




    

      
      





      
   

     
    




     


    
    
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   p 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Bonaos and Mojena Gonzales-Plasus: Perspectives of Catanduanes crabbers on national BSC management policies 

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     
     
       
     
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    
     
     
       
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      
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     
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     
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=p=

       




       
      
  
      








 


   p 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Marine and Fishery Sciences 38 (4): 591-607 (2025)
604
experience, cultural and community ties, and the
perceived relevance of conservation messaging

their environmental behaviors. Overall, crabbers’
attitude towards the NBSCPP implementation in
northern Catanduanes were generally positive
(3.82 ± 0.43).
CONCLUSIONS
Northern Catanduanes crabbers depend deeply
        
both income and daily survival. Many are particu-

income, limited education, and few job alternatives.
Despite these challenges, they demonstrate a strong
awareness of key conservation rules, such as closed


However, other rules are less understood or harder
to follow without additional support, particularly
those involving gear restrictions and crab handling.
It is interesting to note that while education and


-

By investing in education, enforcement, and liveli-
hood support, we can help crabbers not only follow
the law but also prosper alongside thriving marine
ecosystems.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researchers express their gratitude to Catan-
duanes State University and Western Philippines
University for their academic guidance, the Local
Government Units of Northern Catanduanes for
their cooperation, and crab crabbers for their valu-
able insights and participation in the study.
Author contributions
Recie Bonaos: conceptualization; methodolo-
gy; investigation; formal analysis; writing-original
draft; writing-review and editing; supervision; pro-
ject administration. Maria Mojena Gonzales-Plasus:
data curation; visualization; investigation; writing-
review and editing.
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