This week on 'Born to be Wild:' Cagayan's 40-kilo sailfish

BORN TO BE WILD

“BIG FISH: Open Season”

Finale airs Wednesday, June 19

After a week of exploring Cagayan’s open seas, the search for the big fish is about to come to a close as Doc Nielsen finally encounters the 40-kilo susay or sail fish. But there is more to this encounter because of the important findings of fisheries expert Mudjikeewis Santos. According to Santos, big fish thrive in the Babuyan Channel not only to feed but also to spawn. It is likely that Cagayan’s nutrient-rich waters serve as the breeding ground for the next generation of big fish. Knowing about big fish behavior can lead to a better understanding of how to conserve them for the next generation. In the case of Cagayan, Santos thinks that allowing a “closed season” for fish to reproduce and grow may help us see even bigger fish in the future.

An “open” and “closed” fishing season is implemented in Palau, where Doc Ferds Recio travelled to see fish the size of grown humans. Here, areas have been designated for fishing while some areas are protected all year-round. Because of this conservation effort, big fish such as the Napoleon Wrasse or mameng are able to reach their full size in the wild. Doc Ferds encountered the biggest one yet—a mameng more than five feet in length! The mameng is an endangered fish whose numbers were brought down by overcatching. But today, some residents in Palau believe that they should be allowed to catch the Napoleon Wrasse again as part of their tradition during special occasions.

Watch the finale of the much talked-about BIG FISH series on Born to be Wild this Wednesday, after Saksi!