Dr. Gerald F. Quinitio: A Filipino Fisheries Scientist

By

Melchor F. Cichon

December 1, 2006

Among the Filipino fisheries scientists today, Dr. Gerald F. Quinitio belongs to the first level.

He was formerly employed as a scientist at SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, but now he works as an assistant professor at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.

His appointment as a faculty at CFOS augmented the list of distinguished fisheries scholars and scientists of the College. He joins the ranks of Drs. Rogelio O. Juliano, Augusto Serrano, and Romeo Fortes, among others.

Dr. Quinitio is a fisheries scientist par excellence. He is not only known in the Philippines but also abroad for his numerous researches and published works on fisheries.

He considers his works on the physiology of milkfish and grouper as his most significant contribution to fisheries science.

Here are some of his notable researches on grouper and milkfish:

1. Optimization of reproductive performance and egg production of Epinephelus coioides by sex ratio manipulation

2. Effect of different fat sources on the egg quality of Epinephelus suillus

3. Broodstock development of Epinephelus sp.

4. Induced sex control in juvenile grouper, Epinephelus sp.

5. Development of the digestive system of Epinephelus coioides larvae

6. Salinity and temperature adaptation in Epinephelus coioides larvae and juveniles

7. Effect of stocking density and cage size on the growth of juvenile milkfish

8. Development of an efficient method of collecting, handling and transport of newly fertilized milkfish eggs

9. Effect of feeding levels and frequency on growth of milkfish broodstock

From his research work, he authored and co-authored 28 articles which were published locally and internationally. Some of these include the following: (Please see his complete list of publications at the end of this article)

1. Juario, J.V., M. Natividad, G. Quinitio and J. Banno. 1979. Experiments on the induced spawning and larval rearing of the milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forsskal) in 1979. SEAFDEC/AQD Qrtly. Res. Rpt., 3. 1-3.

2. Quinitio, G.F., J.D. Toledo, A.T. Duller and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1991. Survival of yolk-sac larvae of grouper (Epinephelus suillus) under simulated transport conditions. p. 326-327 In P. Lavens, P. Sorgeloos, E. Jasper and F. Ollevier (eds.). Larvi '91 - Fish and Crustacean Larviculture Symposium. European Society, Special Publ. 15, Gent, Belgium.

3. Quinitio, G.F., A. Goto and H. Takahashi. 1992. A comparison of the annual changes in testicular activity and serum androgen levels between the early and delayed maturing groups of male Cottus hangiongensis. Env. Biol. Fish. 34: 119-126.

4. Quinitio, G.F., R.M. Coloso, N.B. Caberoy, J.D. Toledo and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1996. Egg quality of grouper Epinephelus coioides fed different fatty acid sources, p. 103-107. In D. MacKinlay and M. Eldridge (eds.). The fish egg: Its biology and culture. Proceedings of the International Congress on the Biology of Fishes. 14-18 July 1996. San Francisco State University. 191 p.

5. Quinitio, G.F., N.B. Caberoy and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1997. Induction of sex change in female Epinephelus coioides by social control. Isr. J. Aqua. - Bamidgeh 49: 77-83.

6. Caberoy, N.B. and G.F. Quinitio. 2000. Changes in Na+,K+-ATPase activity and gill chloride cell morphology in the grouper Epinephelus coioides larvae and juveniles in response to salinity and temperature. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 23: 83-94.

7. Quinitio, G.F., J.D. Tan-Fermin and A. Nagai. 2001. Possible application of mibolerone for induced sex inversion of grouper Epinephelus coioides. Fisheries Sci. 67: 232-237.

8. Toledo, J.D., N.B. Caberoy and G.F. Quinitio. 2004. Environmental factors affecting embryonic development hatching and survival of early stage larvae of the grouper (Epinephelus coioides). p. 10-16. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

9. Quinitio, G.F., A.C. Sa-an, J.D Toledo and J.D. Tan-Fermin. 2004. Localization of enzymes in the digestive system during early development of the grouper Epinephelus coioides. p 30-34. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

10. Alava, V.R., F.M.P Priolo, J.D. Toledo, J.C. Rodriguez, G.F. Quinitio, A.C. Sa-an, M.R. de la Peña and R.C. Caturao. 2004. Lipid Nutrition studies on grouper (Epinephelus coioides) Larvae. p. 47-52. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

Because of his expertise, Dr. Quinitio has been tapped as thesis adviser/panel member/critic to graduate and undergraduate students.

Here are some of the students whom he has helped in their theses:

As co-adviser:

Nora B. Caberoy, Osmoregulation in Grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) Larvae and Juveniles. (M.S., graduated March 1999)

Analyn C. Sa-an, Development of the Digestive System of Rabbitfish Siganus, guttatus (Bloch): Histology and Histochemistry, (M.S.,graduated March 2004)

Aileeen B. Bofill, Embryonic Development and Hatching Rate of grouper, Epinephelus suillus Eggs Incubated at Different Stocking, Densities, (B.S., graduated April 1992)

As a Panel Member:

Grace H. Garcia, Milt Response of the Sea Bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) to Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Analogue and 17a-Methyltestosterone, (M.S, graduated April 1992)

As a Critic:

Melvin Z. Mangawil, Effect of Feeding Frequency on the Growth , Survival and Net Yield of Sea Bass (reared in Floating Net Cages, (M.S., graduated November 1990)

His expertise was not only used in SEAFDEC/AQD and in the academe, but also outside of these two institutions.

He served as Research Assistant at the Center for Development Studies, Inc., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, Nov 1975-Dec 1975. He also worked as a Technical Assistant at the Department of Natural Resources, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, Jan 1976-Apr 1976. At the same time, he worked as a Research Assistant at the Synergistic Consultants Inc., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, Feb 1976-Apr 1976. And in 1999, he served as a Consultant at GAINEX Mid-term Evaluation Project (GAINEX 99), Gaia South Inc.-Environmental Consultants, 7/F Montepino Bldg., Gamboa cor. Adelantado Sts., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines, Jul-Sep 1999

Dr. Quinitio is not only expert in fisheries but he is also good in Niponggo. In fact, he has been hired by the West Visayas State University and by the University of the Philippine in the Visayas to teach basic Japanese language. Until now he serves as a private tutor for basic Japanese language.

Dr. Quinitio was born in Manila on June 25, 1954. His parents are Simeon H. Quinitio, Jr. and Luz M. Fontelera. He took his high school at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati, Rizal. This encouraged him to take up engineering degree at UP. Unfortunately, he did not pass the UPCAT.

Let me quote him:

"My taking up fisheries was just an accident. To be frank, I wasn't able to pass the UPCAT but I wanted to study in UP. The real course I wanted to take up was electrical engineering which is closest to electronics at that time. Electronics was my vocational course in high school at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati.

"I heard that there were diploma courses at UP that didn't require UPCAT. It was music, fine arts and fisheries. Since the former two courses were not close to my heart, I decided to take up Diploma in Fisheries. The home town (Infanta, Pangasinan) of my parents is an agricultural and fishing village so whenever we go home during summer vacation me, my siblings and cousins always loved swimming and diving in the sea. That triggered me to take up fisheries to get into UP and then shift to engineering when I reach the required units and grades. However, when I could already transfer after 1 year, I decided to go on with fisheries because I've learned to like the course."

But he must have been influenced by his father, Simeon H. Quinitio, Jr. who is a graduate of the Philippine Institute of Fisheries Technology (PIFT), the forerunner of the present UPV-CFOS.

So he stayed on until he received his BS Fisheries, majoring in marine fisheries.

Two years after graduation, Gerry, as he is fondly called by his colleagues, got employed as a Fisheries Technician, in a Fish Hatchery Project, at the SEAFDEC/AQD in Tigbauan, Iloilo in June 1978. Through hard work, he was promoted in July 1981 as a Research Associate in the same project.

By this time, Gerry has already finished his Master in Fisheries, major in Aquaculture at UPV-CFOS through a scholarship grant from Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

This was followed by a two-year, 1984-1986, scholarship grant from the Ministry of Japanese Ministry of Education Scholarship (Monbusho) for Japanese Language (6 months.) at Osaka University of Foreign Studies and Research Studentship at Kochi University. After which he took his Doctor of Fisheries Science at Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, with his thesis entitled: "Studies on the Functional Morphology of the Testis in Two Species of Freshwater Sculpins” in 1989.

While working at SEAFDEC/AQD, where his wife, Dr. Emilia Tobias-Quinitio, also works, Gerry received a lot of training, grants and projects on the various aspects of fisheries. From these activities, he produced more than twenty scientific papers and pamphlets.

With these accomplishments, Dr. Quinitio, was promoted as scientist by SEAFDEC/AQD, one of the very few personnel of SEAFDEC/AQD to have been designated as such.

But his employment at SEAFDEC/AQD was suddenly cut off when a change was undertaken by the management of this research institution.

Knowing that he still has a lot of things to contribute for the development of fisheries in the country, Dr. Quinitio decided to work at the CFOS, his alma mater.

He said that " Researchers in fisheries still have a lot of work to do. The world population is increasing and there is a need to increase aquatic food production to cope-up with the demand but without destroying our environment. Therefore fisheries research will definitely play a big role for such a big challenge."

He continues:

"I decided to continue working on fisheries since I learned while working in this field that it is very important that we should have good source of protein in our diet. Fisheries, I believe can answer this need. Therefore we should take care of our aquatic resources and develop technology for propagating them. I hope that by doing research and teaching students, I could some how help towards this goal."

And this is also a challenge not only to their “child” , Karla Baltazar, but to all of us.

****

Here is his list of publications as of August 2006

Edited Book and Proceeding:

Lacanilao, F., R.M. Coloso andG. F. Quinitio (Eds.). 1994. Proceedings of the Seminar-Workshop on Aquaculture Development in Southeast Asia and Prospects for Seafarming and Searanching. 19-23 Aug. 1991, Iloilo City, Philippines. 159 p.

Marte, C.L., G. F. Quinitio and A.C. Emata (Eds.). 1996. Breeding and seed production of cultured finfishes in the Philippines. 4-5 May 1993. SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. 182 p.

Journal and other Publications:

Juario, J.V., M. Natividad, G. F. Quinitio and J. Banno. 1979. Experiments on the induced spawning and larval rearing of the milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forsskal) in 1979. SEAFDEC/AQD Qrtly. Res. Rpt., 3. 1-3.

Lijauco, M., J. Juario, D. Baliao, E. Griño and G. F. Quinitio. 1979. Milkfish culture in brackishwater ponds. SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo. Ext. manual 4. 17 pp.

Quinitio, G.F. and G. Kawamura. 1980. A comparison between the catching efficiency of two milkfish fry collecting gears and their respective modifications. SEAFDEC/AQD Qrtly. Res. Rpt., 4. 7-10.

Juario, J.V., G. F. Quinitio, J.E. Banno and M. Natividad. 1980. Effects of exogenous hormone injections on milt consistency in newly caught, wild milkfish. Kalikasan, Philipp. J. Biol. 9. 321-326.

Quinitio, G.F. and J.V. Juario.1980. Effect of various salinity levels and stock manipulation methods on the survival of milkfish fry (Chanos chanos) during storage. Fish. Res. J. Philipp. 5. 11-21.

Baticados, M.C.L. and G. F. Quinitio. 1984. Occurrence and pathology of an Amyloodinium-like protozoan parasite on gills of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus. Helgolander Meeresunters. 37. 595-601.

Marte, C.L., G. F. Quinitio, L.M.B. Garcia and F.J. Lacanilao. 1984. A Guide to the establishment and maintenance of milkfish broodstock. SEAFDEC/AQD-IDRC Tech. Rpt. 11. 36 pp.

Marte, C.L., J. Toledo, G. F. Quinitio and A. Castillo. 1986. Collection of naturally-spawned milkfish eggs in floating cages, p. 671-674. In J.L. Maclean, L.B. Dizon and L.V. Hosillos (eds.) The First Asian Fisheries Forum. Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines.

Quinitio, G.F., H. Takahashi and A. Goto. 1988. Annual changes in the testicular activity of the river sculpin, Cottus hangiongensis Mori, with emphasis on the occurrence of aberrant spermatids during spermatogenesis. J. Fish Biol. 33. 871-878.

Quinitio, G. F., A. Takemura and A. Goto. 1989. Ovarian development and changes in the vitellogenin levels in the river sculpin, Cottus hangiongensis, during an annual reproductive cycle. Bull. Fac. Fish. Hokkaido Univ. 40. 246-253.

Quinitio, G.F., J.D. Toledo, A.T. Duller and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1991. Survival of yolk-sac larvae of grouper (Epinephelus suillus) under simulated transport conditions. p. 326-327 In P. Lavens, P. Sorgeloos, E. Jasper and F. Ollevier (eds.). Larvi '91 - Fish and Crustacean Larviculture Symposium. European Society, Special Publ. 15, Gent, Belgium.

Quinitio, G.F. and J.D. Toledo. 1991. Mariculture techniques for Epinephelus sp. in the Philippines, p. 94-106. In R.D. Guerrero III and M.P. Garcia, Jr. (eds.) Advances in finfish and shellfish mariculture. Proceedings of the First Philippine-French Technical Workshop on Advances in Finfish and Shellfish Mariculture, PCAMRD, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, 24-26 Oct. 1990. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 172 p

Quinitio, G.F., A. Goto and H. Takahashi. 1992. A comparison of the annual changes in testicular activity and serum androgen levels between the early and delayed maturing groups of male Cottus hangiongensis. Env. Biol. Fish. 34: 119-126.

Quinitio, G.F. and H. Takahashi. 1992 An ultrastructural study on the occurrence of aberrant spermatids in the testis of the river sculpin, Cottus hangiongensis. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 39: 235-241.

Quinitio, G.F. and H. Takahashi. 1994. Occurrence of aberrant spermatids in the freshwater sculpin, Cottus nozawae Snyder. In L.M. Chou, A.D. Munro, T.J. Lam, T.W. Chen, L.K.K Cheong, J.K. Ding, K.K. Hooi, H.W. Khoo, V.P.E. Phang, K.F. Shim, C.H. Tan (eds.). Third Asian Fisheries Forum. Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines: 802-805.

Quinitio, G.F., R.M. Coloso, N.B. Caberoy, J.D. Toledo and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1996. Egg quality of grouper Epinephelus coioides fed different fatty acid sources, p. 103-107. In D. MacKinlay and M. Eldridge (eds.). The fish egg: Its biology and culture. Proceedings of the International Congress on the Biology of Fishes. 14-18 July 1996. San Francisco State University. 191 p.

Quinitio, G.F. and M.N. Duray. 1996. Review of SEAFDEC/AQD finfish seed production research. Proceedings of the National Seminar-Workshop on Breeding and Seed Production of Cultured Finfishes in the Philippines. 4-5 May 1993. SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines: 119-131.

Quinitio, G.F., N.B. Caberoy and D.M. Reyes, Jr. 1997. Induction of sex change in female Epinephelus coioides by social control. Isr. J. Aqua. - Bamidgeh 49: 77-83.

Caberoy, N.B. and G. F. Quinitio. 1998. Sensitivity of grouper Epinephelus coioides eggs to handling stress at different stages of embryonic development. Isr. J. Aqua. – Bamidgeh 50: 167-173.

Quinitio, G. 1999. The status of seed production of grouper and other coral reef fishes in the Philippines, p 155-162. In A.S. Cabanban and M. Phillips (eds.). Aquculture of Coral Reef Fishes. Proceedings of the Workshop on Aquaculture of Coral Reef Fisheries. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia. 6-10 Dec. 1996. Institute for Development Studies (Sabah). 280 p.

Caberoy, N.B. and G. F. Quinitio. 2000. Changes in Na+,K+-ATPase activity and gill chloride cell morphology in the grouper Epinephelus coioides larvae and juveniles in response to salinity and temperature. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 23: 83-94.

Quinitio, G.F., J.D. Tan-Fermin and A. Nagai. 2001. Possible application of mibolerone for induced sex inversion of grouper Epinephelus coioides. Fisheries Sci. 67: 232-237.

Toledo, J.D., N.B. Caberoy, G. F. Quinitio, C.H. Choresca and H. Nakagawa. 2002. Effects of salinity, aeration and light intensities on oil globule absorption, feeding incidence, growth and survival of early stages of grouper Epinephelus coioides larvae. Fisheries Sci. 68: 478-483.

Toledo, J.D., N.B. Caberoy and G. F. Quinitio. 2004. Environmental factors affecting embryonic development hatching and survival of early stage larvae of the grouper (Epinephelus coioides). p. 10-16. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

Quinitio, G.F., A.C. Sa-an, J.D Toledo and J.D. Tan-Fermin. 2004. Changes in the gastrointestinal tract and associated organs during early development of the grouper Epinephelus coioides. p 26-29. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

Quinitio, G.F., A.C. Sa-an, J.D Toledo and J.D. Tan-Fermin. 2004. Localization of enzymes in the digestive system during early development of the grouper Epinephelus coioides. p 30-34. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

Alava, V.R., F.M.P Priolo, J.D. Toledo, J.C. Rodriguez, G. F. Quinitio, A.C. Sa-an, M.R. de la Peña and R.C. Caturao. 2004. Lipid Nutrition studies on grouper (Epinephelus coioides) Larvae. p. 47-52. In M.A. Rimmer, S. McBride and K.C. Williams (eds.). Advances in Grouper Aquaculture. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph No. 110. 137 p.

Pomeroy, R.S., R. Agbayani, M. Duray, J. Toledo and G. Quinitio. 2004. The financial feasibility of small-scale grouper culture in the Philippines. Aquacult. Econ. and Mngt. 8: 61-84.