Annotated Checklist of Cartilaginous Fishes in Palawan Waters

Abstract

An annotated checklist of 67 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) confirmed to be present in Palawan waters was described based on (1) market visits in Puerto Princesa, Aborlan, Brookes Point, and Roxas between October 2021 and March 2022; (2) contributory citizen science soliciting photographs and video footage validated by the authors; and (3) review of various ichthyologic types of research in Palawan that include museum collection records, taxonomic papers, results of DNA analysis, institutional project reports, and related literature, particularly on the occurrence and distributional range of the species. An additional 24 species were placed on the unconfirmed list due to insufficient evidence collected and thus required further investigation. The Province of Palawan exercises environmental jurisdiction over its surrounding marine areas under Republic Act No. 7611, known as the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan, with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), as its regulatory, enforcement, and policy-making authority. In response to the Wildlife Act (Republic Act 9147), the PCSD drafted Resolution 15-521(s. 2015), which updated the list of terrestrial and marine wildlife species in Palawan for protection and management and included only 15 shark and ray species. This paper provides an updated list of Palawan Chondrichthyes (with notes on the conservation status based on the IUCN Global Red List Assessment), suggests a prescriptive approach to enhancing conservation policies in the province, and addresses some critical issues of conservation and management of the Philippine sharks and related species, in particular, and the Philippine fisheries in general.