Gleaning activities on the islands of Apid, Digyo and Mahaba, Inopacan, Leyte, Philippines

Gleaning is a typical activity among fisherfolks, especially among the women, in the Philippines. On three small islands off the shore of Inopacan, Leyte, the importance of the collected organisms as sources of food and income for the island communities has been studied. The study revealed that mainly children and the youth are involved in gleaning activities. They collect different species of fish, molusks, echinoderms and other invertebrates as well as algae. The collected organisms are used for subsistence and commercial purposes. Gleaning methods, species, amount, gleaning season and time, and the market price are described in this study. Average catch per gleaner in the three islands is highest in Digyo, the smallest of the three islands, followed by Mahaba and Apid