Fishers in Brgy. San Agustin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro are catching hundreds of kilos of fish every day, thanks to the lambaklad unit awarded by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).

The lambaklad unit that was turned over to the members of the San Agustin Lambaklad Fisherfolk Association is the second lambaklad project under the National Lambaklad Program, a recent program of the DA-BFAR which seeks to help increase fish catch and boost income of small-scale fisherfolk through this environmental-friendly and sustainable fishing technology. This is in line with the Department of Agriculture’s goal of sustainably increasing the country’s fish production while improving fisherfolk income, a key strategy under Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s ‘OneDA’ reform agenda.

Based on the Association’s catch data, the project has yielded approximately 2,000 kg of fish within only two weeks of operation. Set as a form of community-based livelihood program, the project not only provided additional income for the direct beneficiaries, but also gave opportunities for their family members to act as retailers of the catch. The increased catch also augmented fish supply in the community and adjacent municipalities and provided additional income generating activities for fish traders, ice dealers and transporters.

The lambaklad project in San Jose started last February 2020 with a site survey, during which time, fishing grounds were selected and surveyed to assess the geographic and topographical conditions of the area. Species present in the area were also assessed, especially their migration route. Social preparation through capacity building on lambaklad fisheries and project management was also conducted. The construction and installation were finished in December last year, and fishing operations started immediately.

The fisherfolk association has previously utilized traditional small-scale fishing gears such as simple hook and line, multiple handline, troll line and squid jig in catching tuna, tuna-like species, and squid. With its lambaklad unit however, the Association has not only increased its catch, but has also diversified its target species and are now able to catch caranx, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, needlefish, skipjack, eastern little tuna, and queen fish.

In addition to the lambaklad in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, another unit in Jagna, Bohol is currently in operation, while two units in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and Morong, Bataan are under construction. The Bureau is also offering technical assistance to local government units, fisheries organization, and other private individuals in the installation and operation of lambaklad.

The lambaklad is a sustainable Japanese fishing technology adapted in the Philippines. It is an environment-friendly fishing gear that catches fish through allurement. The structure of the lambaklad guides fish to swim towards the net and ends up in a bag or cod-end. To avail of this project, fisherfolk organizations or individuals may request assistance from any of BFAR’s Regional Offices.

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Reference:
Capture Fisheries Division
cfd@bfar.da.gov.ph

Disclaimer: The photo below represents the lambaklad project for illustration purposes only, and is not an exact photo of the lambaklad project mentioned in the article.

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