Kanduli
Also known as: Manila sea catfish · Sea catfish
Definition
Kanduli commonly refers to the Manila sea catfish, a marine and brackishwater catfish named after the waters where it was first described. The name is also applied generally to several sea catfish species caught around the Philippine coast and marketed fresh or dried.
Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Arius manillensis |
| Wikidata | Q3751771 |
| DBpedia | N/A |
Also Known As
- Manila sea catfish
- Sea catfish
Examples and Analogies
Kanduli is the marine counterpart of the freshwater hito, a whiskered catfish of bays and coasts, named for Manila Bay the way the Atlantic salmon was named for its ocean. Its mouthbrooding males, carrying eggs like cautious parents, set sea catfishes apart from most marine fish.
Usage Scenarios
Kanduli is sold fresh, salted, or dried, cooked in sour broths and coconut milk dishes, and supports coastal gillnet and longline fisheries. The dried form is a traditional pantry staple in coastal households.
Strategies
Strategies include management of coastal fishing effort, habitat protection of estuaries and bay nurseries, and post-harvest improvements for dried fish quality and value.
Security and Safety Measures
Safety measures involve careful dressing to avoid the venom-bearing pectoral spines common to catfishes, salt-control and hygiene in drying to prevent spoilage, and sourcing from unpolluted bays.
Historical Context
The species took its scientific name from Manila, where it was described from specimens in the nineteenth century, a reminder of how rich Manila Bay fisheries once were.
Challenges and Controversies
Challenges include the degradation of Manila Bay and other estuaries, overfishing of coastal stocks, and competition of the dried-fish trade with mass-produced imports.
Related Topic
Manila