Payao starting to attract fish
BALON DAGUPAN NEWS
THE first payao or fish aggregating device installed in Dagupan City in March has yielded positive results as different species of fish have already inhabited the waters surrounding it.
This was evident during the underwater assessment undertaken on May 24 by city officials led by Mayor Belen Fernandez.
The payao was set up about three kilometers off Barangay Pugaro.
Accompanying Fernandez in the assessment were officials from the City Agriculture Office and members of a local diving group, which included Councilors Jose Netu Tamayo and Karlos Reyna of Dagupan, Lingayen Councilor Maan Verzosa, Owen Tan, Yoyong Balingit and Rovil Aromin.
Among the fish species that are teeming in the payao include salay, skipjack, talakitok, lapu-lapu and aquarium fish.
The payao is a device that gathers small fish, which then attracts bigger fish, providing small-scale fishermen a specific location to catch.
It is intended to generate livelihood and encourage fisher folks to practice non-destructive fishing activities. The project seeks to benefit some 50 marginal fisherfolk in the area.
The project is part of the local government’s initiative to provide stable and sustainable livelihood opportunities for small fisherfolk and at the same time help protect and preserve the city’s fishing areas and natural resources.
Both Reyna and Tamayo acknowledged the potential of the device in terms of bringing in more capital for the local fishing industry. The councilors are also working on the passage of a resolution that will declare the coastal waters of Pugaro as a protected fish sanctuary and diving site.
“From what we observed underwater, this payao project is really promising. We saw that the school of fish have made it their habitat. And this is just one structure, so imagine if we bring in additional structures like that,” said Reyna.
Tamayo added, “The site has the makings of a diving spot. Hopefully it will be developed and will bring in more investments and more tourists.”
Noting the success of the test project, Fernandez now plans to have more payaos installed in the city’s waters. (CIO)
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