Bamboo fish-traps, known locally as Bobos, are a very destructive fishing method that is slowly destroying the coral reefs of Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte.
What are the local government and fisheries departments doing about this problem?
I have been watching the increased use of fish traps in the Lungsodaan and Padre Burgos areas over the past 5 years. They appear to have doubled in number. Perhaps in part due to the dramatic increase in the local population, perhaps in part by lack of enforcement of existing regulations.
The bamboo fish trap smashes everything when dumped onto the Coral.
I have watched the ongoing destruction of Georgian fans, Green-tree Coral, Table Corals and even soft Corals from this fishing method. The bamboo fish trap smashes everything in its path when dumped onto the Coral Reef. That is already significant damage. But it is not the worst of the damage inflicted on the reef.
Swinging Bobo ropes destroy anything standing in it's path.
These traps normally have a long rope which is attached to a large rock in the shallows for easy retrieval later. This rope swings back and forth with the tidal-currents and wind-driven wave surge; sometimes swinging over a wide area, knocking-over Corals or scraping away other marine life in it's path; such as sponges and anemonies.
The fisherman simply don't seem to understand the destruction.
The fisherman seem to have no idea what damage and destruction they are inflicting upon the Corals and other marine life below. They simply don't seem to understand how they are damaging their own livelihood.
The Coral Reefs are the critical environment required for a healthy reef-fish population. Without the Coral Reefs there will be no reef-fish. Without the reef-fish population there will be no visiting pelagic fish (so revered by the fishermen for sale to local markets). No reef - no reef-fish, no reef-fish - no pelagic fish!
The use of Bobos must be restricted.
The use of Bobos must at the very least be restricted to areas where there are no existing Coral Reefs. If the use of Bobos is not controlled soon, the beautiful Coral Reefs of Sogod Bay will disappear; along with the fish population they support.
The Philippine fisheries department and local governments should take action now, by enforcing existing laws to control the use of these destructive bamboo fish traps. Before its to late!
Meanwhile the Philippine Government should look at passing and enforcing more adequate laws and penalties to prevent the ongoing destruction of Coral Reefs in this country.
