VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 (July to December 2013)

by Angelli Marie Jacynth M. Asis¹, Altair B. Agmata¹, Billy JoelCatacutan¹, Romeo Culasing² and Mudjekeewis D. Santos¹*

¹Genetic Fingerprinting Laboratory, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute,
  Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines
²Cagayan State University, Aparri Cagayan

Goby fry found in Northern Luzon, commonlycalled "ipon", is an important fishery in thePhilippines that is threatened by increasingdemand and exploitation of the resource. Thecontinuing decline of the "ipon" population callsfor effective fisheries management and conservation.Unfortunately, effective management efforts are hindered by theunresolved identities of the goby fry species which comprise"ipon". Here, we provide the first report of Awaous ocellaris asone of the species included in the "ipon" fishery in Aparri,Cagayan, We used the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidasesubunit 1 (CO1), that is used by the International Barcode ofLife (IBOL) as a standard taxonomic DNA marker for vertebratespecies. The results provide important information on theidentity of "ipon" which is vital to ensuring the sustainability ofthe resource.