Giant Lapu-Lapu fish caught in San Andres, Quezon

A giant fish that was almost two meters in length was caught by a fisherman in Barangay Inanuran in San Andres, Quezon.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras,” the fish weighed around 250 kilos and was sold for P22,000.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the fish was a type of Grouper or Lapu-Lapu.

“Ang Lapu-Lapu naman mainly is talagang lumalaki siya around 2.5 to 2.7 meters ‘yung sobrang lalaki. Pero swerte naman nung mangingisda na nakahuli siya ng ganoon kalaki,” BFAR Region 5 spokesperson Nonie Enolva said..

(Lapu-Lapu mainly grow tp around 2.5 to 2.7 meters, these are the really big ones. The fisherman was lucky to have caught a fish this size.)

Meanwhile, marine specialist and Oceana campaigner Diovanie De Jesus said the size of the fish was an indication of the sea’s condition.

“Ibig sabihin noon mas mataas ‘yung biomass, so higher biomass means that a coral reef area is in better or good health,” De Jesus said.

(This means that there’s high biomass, so higher biomass means that a coral reef area is in better or good health.)

“Ang Lapu-Lapu kasi ano siya carnivore. Ibig sabihin kumakain siya ng smaller organism or smaller fish kapag mas marami pa siyang nakakain, mas marami pang isda sa area kaya lumaki siya ng ganoon kalaki,” he added.

(A Lapu-Lapu is a carnivore. So this means that it eats smaller organisms or smaller fish. If it can eat a lot, it means there’s more fish in the area, which allows it to grow bigger.)

The expert said that as long as fishermen catch fish the right way and in the right place such as those outside protected areas, there was no problem.

Despite this, the experts advised that if such fish will not be eaten, it should be left alone to grow.

“Kung hindi rin naman kakain ‘yung ganon kalaki mas magandang hayaan na lang. Kasi puwedeng ‘yun ‘yung mga mature na isa na puwede pang manganak mas bigyan natin ng chance na magparami,” De Jesus said.

(If they won’t eat a fish of that size, it would be better to let it be. Because it can mature further and give birth. So let’s give it a chance to multiply.)

— Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News