Artificial Reefs Double Fish Harvest - Inquirer News Service 11/03/05
On what was once barren sea floor, coral clusters have emerged from concrete cubes in the fish sanctuary in the Ragay Gulf off the village of Caranan in Pasacao, Camarines Sur. Francisco P. Ombao, 53, feels self-fulfilled over the return of marine bounty in the 145-hectare coastal area since he and other concerned divers and fishermen installed the artificial reefs 14 years ago in the gulf, facing the Masbate island group. At present, Ombao said, 73 percent of living corals in the sanctuary are inhabited by creatures of varying sizes, shapes, colors and textures. Colorful worms, such as sea feathers and lilies, and other marine species are back in the reefs, he said. Ombao, a habitat and fishing regulation officer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has been leading a team of divers and deputized fishermen in developing the Artificial Reef System (ARS) since 1991. The BFAR project team has directly involved the fisherfolk, one of the main stakeholders in the fisheries resources, in the experiment of coral reef rehabilitation using the ARS. At least 40 percent of the 7,000 villagers are fishers. The BFAR has deputized seven fishermen to assist them in catching violators. One of them, Armando Mortega, 40, said the ARS had doubled fish catch to an average of 10 kilos since the community-based resource management program was implemented.
