payao

Not a floating restaurant, nor a festival float but a payao or modern fish cage. A part of Mariculture project of PGA that was recently inaugurated in Baler Fishport and Casiguran port.

“Payao” is a fish aggregating device consisting of a floating raft anchored by weighted line with suspended materials such as palm fronds to attract pelagic and schooling species common in deep waters. These are installed along the path of migratory high value species such as tuna and tuna-like fishes. Local fishermen associations guard these units and when there is already enough fish population converging in the area, catch them either with hook and line or nets, hence contributes to coastal resource conservation.

Photo courtesy of Ferdie Delos Reyes