This project is envisioned to help the fishermen in the area to improve their fishing methods for increased production and income. This may also encourage the fishermen to develop and employ appropriate and non-destructive fishing techniques for the rational utilization of the coastal/marine and inland fishery resources.

The project shall be divided into two sub-projects, namely:

Sub-Project: Survey and Characterization of the Fishing Gears and Methods in Ilocos Norte (This consists of Studies 1, 2 and 3 and will be implemented in a period of one year except for Study 3 in which it shall be continued for another 2 years, if budget warrants in order to have sizable data collected and analyzed for management purposes)

Study 1. Inventory and Establishment of a Museum of the Different Fishing Gears and Methods in Ilocos Norte

Objectives:

Methodology:

A survey, listing and documentation of the different fishing gears and practices employed by the fishermen in Ilocos Norte will be done in selected coastal and inland municipalities. Selection of municipalities for sampling will be based on the diversity and relative popularity of fishing gears in all the coastal towns. In case a particular fishing gear will be present only in a particular place, this must be included in the survey, listing and documentation.

 

A total listing of fishermen or fishing households will also be done to determine the relative popularity of use of the different fishing gears. Relative popularity of each type of fishing gear will be determined by dividing the number of respondents using a particular fishing gear by the total number of respondents.

 

Collection of samples of the different fishing gears and methods shall be undertaken and all the collected samples shall be placed and arranged as to the classification of fishing gears in a designated area to serve as repository and museum of these fishing gears and methods including the various fishing accessories needed in the fishing operation of the fishing gears and methods.

 

Study 2. Characterization of the Various Fishing Gears and Methods in Ilocos Norte and Documentation of the Fish Catch

 

Objectives:

Methodology:

Each of the fishing gears shall be described as to their mode of construction, method of fishing operation and the fishing ground, species of fish caught and other characteristics. Various fishing accessories needed in the fishing operation of the fishing gears shall also be documented and described.

 

Sketches or drawings with all the specifications and the materials used in the construction shall be done for each of the fishing gears and methods including the various fishing accessories needed in the fishing operation of the fishing gears.

 

Monographs of these fishing gears and methods, the various fishing accessories, and the species of fish caught of each of the fishing gears and methods shall be prepared and possibly patented.

 

Study 3. Relative popularity, productivity and profitability of the fishing gears and methods used by fishermen in Ilocos Norte

 

Objectives:

Methodology:

Record keeping on the productivity and profitability indicators of fishing gears will be employed by randomly selecting respondents from the above listing. Further, the seasonality of use, relative popularity and level of production of the fishing gears shall be determined.

 

The record keeping activity shall be continued for a period of three years and the data that will be collected and analyzed and form the basis of coming up with management and development options for these fishing gears and the coastal/marine and inland fishery resources.

 

Sub-Project 2: Selectivity Assessment and Improvement of the Fishing Gears and Methods of Ilocos Norte (This consists of Studies 4 and 5 and will be implemented in the second year of the project and beyond)

 

Study 4. Selectivity and catching efficiency improvement of the fishing gears and methods in Ilocos Norte

 

Objectives:

Methodology:

Selectivity studies of the different fishing gears and methods shall be done by selecting respondent-fishermen who will conduct actual fishing operations of their fishing gears. Inputs and the catch data per fishing operation per fishing gear shall be recorded and analyzed according to the selectivity of target species of fish caught.

 

Gear improvement studies to enhance catching efficiency of fishing gears shall also be done by experimental fishing employing variations in different gear aspects or characteristics such as mesh size, hook size and number, length, width, number of units, fishing/period time and other. Actual fishing operations employing the fishing gears used by fishermen as control and the improved fishing gears in different variations as treatments will be done.

 

Selectivity and catching efficiencies of the various fishing gears shall be compared using various statistical tools such as ANOVA, MANOVA and other appropriate statistical tools.

 

Study 5. Exploratory fishing gear development in waters off Ilocos Norte including the inland water systems

 

Objectives:

Methodology:

Exploratory gear development will be done such as bait fishing, light fishing and others. Fishing gears that will be developed shall be field tested, demonstrated and promoted to the fisherfolks and other interest groups.