From 2012 to 2017, we conducted a project monitoring the small-scale fishery for mobulid rays in Bohol. This project ended in 2017 when the fishery for all mobulid rays became illegal.
Fishing for mobulid rays (devil rays) has been practiced in the Bohol Sea for over a century. Although fishers have long retired their hooks and harpoons, the fishery continues today as a gill net fishery. Despite the protection of manta rays in the country since 1998 and the recent clamor for protection of other mobulid species, the fishery continues in this region because of the reliance of several communities on this fishery for their livelihood.
The Bohol Fishery Project was established with the aim of providing needed information on the extent of this fishery. The project aims to determine the number and species of mobulid rays caught in the Bohol Sea. We also aim to determine trends in catches and changes in the fishing grounds. This valuable information is needed in order to provide realistic recommendations on how to manage the fishery. We monitor daily catch landings from November until June with the help of volunteers.
It is also our aim to increase the awareness and understanding of the fishing communities on the importance of conservation of fishery resources for the sustainability of their livelihoods. Hence, part of our efforts is to conduct educational outreach to the local youth and the coastal communities. We organize talks, fun activities for kids, and documentary film screenings periodically.
Objectives:
- To determine the extent of the fishery for mobulid rays.
- To determine the socio-economic importance of the fishery.
- To determine the status of the fishery and how it can be managed sustainably.