Region 9 – The DA-BFAR IX conducted a month-long capacity-building program to train municipal fisherfolk from Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte in the technical know-how relative to the construction and operation of the Lambaklad Project to be installed at the costal water of Barangay Panubigan from the said municipality.
The training activity organized by the team from the Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division (RFTFCD) headed by its OIC-Chief and concurrent Assistant Regional Director, Mr. Al-zath K. Kunting, delivered lectures and practical workshop on the construction of bags, playground, leader, frames, anchor bags and the installation or setting of the whole gear in the identified fishing ground. The team of lecturers is composed of technical staff from BFAR Central Office, Mr. Kenneth Carbonel, Robert Aporado of BFAR IX and Mr. Vhal Salvador of BFAR-PFO Zamboanga del Norte.
Set net (Lambaklad) is an environment-friendly fishing gear with a minimal cost of operation that fits for marginal or small fisherfolk organizations. This technology has originated in Japan, known there as Otoshi-ami, and it was first introduced and adopted in the country in the 1980s. DA-BFAR implemented this project in order to capacitate small fisherfolk and that would help reduce the poverty situation among coastal communities, especially the municipal fisheries sub-sector. During the peak season of pelagic fishes, the technology could catch and can even compete with the small fishing boats as it could harvest up to five (5) tons a day, depending on the fishing grounds and volume or school of fish. But the technology is an environment-friendly gear, as evidenced by studies conducted by Dr. Yushihiro Inoue of the Fisheries Faculty of Kagoshima University. Out of a total number of fishes moving onto the playground, only 24 % enter the bag while 76 % would still be in the playground and could possibly escape through the main entrance. And from those fishes entering the bag, 27 % could escape to the playground through the inner slope. The inner slope is too big for fish to escape since it measured 15 meters in width by 15 meters deep from the water surface. Hence, the project is very sustainable. Moreover, the mesh sizes of the gear are of bigger sizes that are not against the existing fishery laws. Also after only a few months of operation, the mooring lines and parts of the gear are converted into a sanctuary for small fishes.
The implementation was in coordination with LGU Siocon Headed by Honorable Mayor Julius S. Lobregas through the Municipal Agriculture Office headed by Municipal Agriculturist Ms.Marevec S. Mejos and barangay officials of Panubigan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. The project will be awarded to King Fisher Fisherfolk Association with its thirty-strong members and led by its president Ms. Indah N. Sabtal.
Prior to the turn-over of the Lambaklad Project and signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the LGU of Siocon and BFAR Regional Office IX, personnel from the Bureau and manpower provided by the fisherfolk association oversaw the sea trial on February 10, 2022, and demonstrated to the fisherfolk beneficiaries on how to operate the gear, especially on the hauling of the bag net and to impart to the fisherfolk the most important point and factors that ease the hauling of the nets. During that day, the whole structures are being observed, because it is very crucial to determine the catch efficiency of the gear and for fine-tuning of its operation. The hauling of the net requires the well-coordinated effort of some twenty men just to raise the weighted bag portion. Fortunately, on that very day, the gear caught 25 kilograms of various fish species such as Baracuda, Mackerel, Scad, and some demersal fishes.
The main objective of the said project is to provide livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk beneficiaries that would lift their economic situation and to ensure food supplies in the municipality of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and the provision of fish food surplus for the nearest localities, advantageous particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
(Source: BFAR Region IX)