2007, July 2. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) - 60th Anniversary
(Actual First Day
for the Souvenir Sheet:
July 27)
Litho Offset.
Amstar Company, Inc., Perf. 14.
Se-tenant Strips of 4, Miniature Sheets of
16 (4 x 4);
Souvenir Sheets of
2
Se-tenant
Strips of 4 (35,000)
7p
Diana
7p
Giant Trevally
7p
Skipjack Tuna
7p
Yellow Fin Tuna
Miniature
Sheets of 16 (8,750)
Souvenir Sheets of
2 (8,000)
7p Cuttlefish
20p Bigfin Reef Squid
and Sacol, Green
Design Coordinators: Dr. Ngo Tiong
Tak, Corazon T. Loza
Layout Designers: Edward Gaspay, Corazon T. Loza, Randolf
E. Siscar, Robinson C. Cruza
Photos Provided by: Butch Javier
(Giant Trevally), Raymond Dy (Cuttlefish)
First
Day Covers: Manila
BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND
AQUATIC RESOURCES (BFAR) - 60th ANNIVERSARY
The Philippines is home to the world's
richest marine biodiversities, including 4900 species of marine
plants and animals, 28 percent of which are economically important
and 10 percent are flagship species. In fact, the country is
acknowledged as the center of marine biodiversity, with many more
species still being discovered. This rich resource has placed the
country as one of the biggest fish producer, ranking 8th worldwide.
It has been providing the Filipinos with food and livelihoods and
contributing much to the improvement of the economy through exports
of fishery products.
For sixty years now, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
has been successful in striking a delicate balance between
production and conservation.
BFAR will continue to explore new frontiers to achieve its vision of
a modern fisheries industry that is sustainable,
technologically-advanced and globally-competitive.
Diana (Lampris guttatus) - is an oceanic and apparently
solitary fish that feeds on midwater fishes and invertebrates,
mainly squids. This large fish is considered a good food fish and is
marketed fresh and frozen or prepared as sashimi. It grows up to 2
meters and can weigh up to 270 kilos.
Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - this marine pelagic fish
is the largest of the species found in the Indo-Pacific region. It
can grow up to 1.7 m (60 kg), but is generally caught at much
smaller sizes. At maturity, giant trevally are 5 years of age and
95-96 cm length. These fish are bluish-silver on the back, sometimes
with a yellowish hue. Their sides are yellowish silver. They have a
small oval-shaped patch of tiny scales on the breast, right in front
of the ventral fins. The giant trevally lacks any opercular spot
behind the eye, and no black blotch appears at the base of the
pectoral fin. The upper flanks may be covered by a scattering of
small black dots. Most individuals of this species aggregate in
large schools. Larger individuals tend to be solitary, and prefer to
feed at night.
Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) - this fish is found in
offshore waters and exhibits a strong tendency to school in surface
waters with birds-drifting objects, sharks and whales. They also
show characteristic behaviors like jumping, feeding, foaming among
other. This tuna species feeds on fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods
and mollusks. Cannibalism is common. Preyed upon by large pelagic
fishes, the skipjacks are taken by trolling on light tackle using
plugspoons, and feathers of strip bait. This commercial fish is
marketed fresh, frozen or canned; also dried-salted and smoked.
Yellow fin tuna (Thunnus albacares) - this fish has a very
long second dorsal fin and anal fin. Its color is black metallic
dark blue changing through yellow to silver on the belly. The tuna
is an oceanic species that school primarily by size, either in
mono-specific or multi-species groups. It feeds on fishes,
crustaceans and squids. It is sensitive to low concentrations of
oxygen and therefore is not usually caught below 250 meters. It is
marketed mainly frozen and canned but also fresh, smoked and as
sashimi.
Cuttlefish (Sepia Cfaculeate) - this is a demersal neritic
species found on sandy bottom, in lagoon or in bay of up to depth of
60 meters. This cuttlefish is characterized by 3 markings on the
back, particularly by a ring of white spots at the back's middle.
Its maximum mantle length reaches to 23 cm. and weighs at 1.3
kilogram.
Bigfin reef squid (Sepiotheutis lessoniana)
- this squid is
abundant in Philippine waters. The skin of the cephalopod is covered
with chromatophores, which enable it to mimic its surrounding. It is
easily distinguished among squids for its very long fins, this
species neritic specie occurring from the surface to a depth of at
least 100 meters. The underside of the squid is also lighter that
the topside providing additional camouflage from both prey and
predator.
Sacol, green (Kappaphycus striatum) - this is the most
commonly found seaweed for its carrageenan that is used in many
food, pharmaceutical and industrial products. The country is
recognized as the world's top producer of semi-refined carrageenan