Exploitation of the window-pane shell Placuna placenta in the Philippines

The window-pane shell Placuna placenta or ‘kapis’ has great economic importance in the Philippines. The translucent shell is used in the manufacture of lampshades and other shellcraft items exported to Europe, USA and Japan. Due to its high demand, excessive and uncontrolled gathering of kapis has b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological conservation 1995, Vol.73 (1), p.33-38
Main Authors: Gallardo, Wenresti G, Siar, Susana V, Encena, Vincent
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
depletion
exploitation
Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.)
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Placuna placenta
pollution
window-pane shell
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Summary:The window-pane shell Placuna placenta or ‘kapis’ has great economic importance in the Philippines. The translucent shell is used in the manufacture of lampshades and other shellcraft items exported to Europe, USA and Japan. Due to its high demand, excessive and uncontrolled gathering of kapis has been noted over the past years. Its possible depletion has been a concern; thus, a nationwide survey on the status of the fishery was conducted in 1993. There are 27 kapis beds in the Philippines, six of which are considered the major sources of kapis shells. Kapis shells are gathered by (1) handpicking (in shallow areas); (2) compressor diving (in deeper areas); and (3) dredging. Because of open access to the fishery, anybody can exploit the resource. Kapis stocks are declining in most beds, while in others they are already low as a result of excessive gathering, pollution, siltation, and destructive methods of fishing such as trawling. To prevent further depletion, establishment of sanctuaries, bans on trawling and other destructive means of fishing, strict enforcement of existing regulations, community-based fishery management, and further research on seed production, restocking, and transplantation are recommended.
ISSN:0006-3207
1873-2917
DOI:10.1016/0006-3207(95)90057-8