Who labs labahita? Labahita, Mangadlit (Tagalog) or Indangan, kadlitan (Bisaya) can refer to certain species of surgeonfish in the Philippines. The Labahita illustrated here is a specific species called Blackstreak surgeonfish or Acanthurus nigricauda.

According to food blogger and restaurant owner Joel Binamira, Labahita is a white meat fish that is delicious grilled with sides of sawsawan, or fried whole. Depending on the region, it can be cheaper to buy than fish such as the flavorful Lapu-lapu or Talakitok.

Just be careful when handling labahita, for they are known for their “scalpel-sharp” scales near their tails (hence “surgeonfish”).

Labahita and marine protected areas

Labahita also seem to “like” marine protected areas or MPAs!

After an MPA was established around Apo Island off the coast of Negros, fish populations of labahita (surgeonfish) and other species tripled! This not only increases supply, but reduces the amount of effort and fuel fishers use to catch our fish.

Learn more about marine protected areas at Philippinewildlife.art here.

Labahita artprint

• If you’d like a Labahita artprint, contact me on Instagram!