MJS15-8

Estuaries are known as nursery grounds of many fishes and invertebrates. Their connectivity with other adjacent ecosystems is vital to their nursery role. Anthropogenic activities can potentially interfere with this function. Yet information on species inhabiting Philippine estuaries is little, and their distribution is not well-established. This study provides baseline data on fish and invertebrate composition of the coastal and estuarine areas of Bago and Pulupandan that were newly established marine protected area (MPA) and proposed MPA sites, respectively, for the conservation of Irrawaddy dolphin habitats. Fish distribution is included to show connectivity of estuaries with other adjacent ecosystems. Gill nets were used to collect fish bimonthly. Majority of the catch was economically important food fishes dominated by marine demersal species. These species were associated with two to three other habitats particularly the estuary, implying connectivity of coastal ecosystems. However, anthropogenic activities exert increasing pressure in estuarine areas, potentially threatening their existence and the fisheries they support.