Commercial and bycatch market fishes, of Panay Island Republic of the Philippines

The Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific Ocean. This region is believed to be hosting from 2,000 to 3,000 fish species as well as the center of marine fish diversity. Yet there is hardly a good reference to guide field researchers working on fish taxonomy and fisheries. The publication of this field guide of fishes, which is a product of a 5-year collaborative effort involving scientists from the Philippines, Thailand and Japan through the Coastal Area Capability Enhancement of Southeast Asia Project, is based on a regular collection of fish specimens from fish markets in Iloilo City and adjacent landing sites in Panay Island, Central Philippines. It puts together 911 color photographs of specimens representing 597 species in a single volume, including at least 19 previously unrecorded species in the Philippines, simply confirming high fish diversity in this area.