July 22, 2024

 

Project in Philippines helps keep fishing closer to shore

 

 

Coastal fishers in Claveria, Cagayan, the Philippines, will not need to go to the high seas, particularly in the Babuyan Channel, and risk their lives to catch fish, thanks to a project initiated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).

 

Fish catching is now done through nets installed 460 meters away from the shore of Barangay Taggat that is part of the Lambaklad Fishing Project.

 

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, BFAR said Region 2 has seen a constant downtrend in fish production in the commercial sector, logging 3,689.84 metric tons in 2023 or lower than the 3.920.66 metric tons of 2022.

 

The PSA said that among the reasons for the downtrend are fuel price hikes that hinder fishing operations in the open seas. Additionally, strong typhoons deter fishers from venturing out to sea.

 

Hence, BFAR Region 2 launched the Lambaklad Fishing Project through its Capture Fisheries Section-Fisheries Production Support Services Division.

 

Coined from the Filipino words "lambat" (net) and "baklad" (corral), the Japanese-inspired technology called Otoshi-Ami uses nets and ropes, instead of bamboo poles, laid down about 200 meters from the shore. BFAR said this technology that has been adopted in the Philippines is sustainable as, among others, the holes of the nets allow small fish to easily escape.

 

The first in Region 2, the Lambaklad project in Claveria town is located near the Community Fish Landing Center.

 

"It is an environment-friendly fishing gear that catches fish through allurement. The structure of the Lambaklad guides fish to swim toward the net and ends up in a bag or cod-end," BFAR said. "As such, it only allows big pelagic [surface] and commercially important fishes, such as yellowfin, skipjack, Caranx sp., Spanish mackerel, and mackerel, leaving small juvenile fish species to swim through the holes."

 

BFAR said it took a month to set the gear at sea phase by phase "to ensure that it followed the prescribed design and the site conforms with the standards required in the guidelines in selecting a project site."

 

Crisanto Laeno, BFAR Capture Fisheries Section chief, said fishing activities in Claveria are now made easier with the project.

 

"Since fishing is done by allurement, in this way, the fish swims inside and is trapped in the box-like chamber," Laeno said, adding that hauling of fish requires 15 up to 26 people aboard two motorboats, one bamboo raft and a flatboat, which usually takes place twice a day.

 

It was in May this year when the dry run in hauling resulted in harvesting about 672.05 kilogrammes of various species of marine fish such as tuna, Caranx (talakitok), dolphin fish (Dorado), and barracuda.

 

"These catches only prove that the Lambaklad is an effective fishing device," Laeno said.

 

BFAR also encouraged members of the Claveria Federation of Fisherfolk Association, the project's beneficiaries, "to ensure the sustainability of the Lambaklad and to conduct regular maintenance and monitoring every 25 days and check for possible damages in the nets and mooring system."

 

Laeno added that in times of impending calamity or disaster, the nettings can be detached and brought to dry land for safety.

- Manila Times