Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

in cooperation with the

International Development Research Centre

SAFIS Extension Manual Series No. 24, 1985

SMALL RING NET FISHING

Danilo O. Maputol
SEC/SM/24 SAFIS Manual No. 24

SMALL RING NET FISHING

by

Danilo O . Maputol

The Secretariat
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
November 1985
 The Small Ring Net Fishing manual has
been prepared for SAFIS by Mr. Danilo O . Maputol
of the Philippines. Mr. Maputol is a fishery
extension specialist stationed at the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
Provisional Fishery Office located at Cagayan
de Oro City.
 (iii)

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction .............................. 1

Description of the small ring net ....... 2

Method of construction ................... 9

Method of operation ...................... 20

A. Fish detection .................. 20

B. Setting the net ................. 24

C. Pursing ......................... 25

D. Hauling the net ................. 26

Operation of a fish shelter ............. 27

System of sharing proceeds from

the catch 28
 (iv)

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Fig. 1 Deck arrangement of a

typical small ring net b o a t 7

Fig. 2 Outboard profile of a small

ring net boat ................... 8

Fig. 3 Method of joining sections

A and B of small ring net ..... 10

Fig. 4 Method of joining sections

B and C of small ring net ..... 11

Fig. 5 Method of joining section

D to sections C and of
small ring net .................. 13

Fig. 6 Upper selvage piece (section E)

and lower selvage piece
section F) of small ring net.... 14

Fig. 7 Structural plan of a small

ring net ......................... 18

Fig. 8 Operation of small ring n e t .... 23

 (v)

LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1 Specifications of a small

ring net .................... . . 3

Table 2 Materials used for making

a small ring net ............. 4

Table 3 Estimated cost of vessels,

Equipment and Materials
for a small ring net fishing
outfit ........... ............. 5

Table 4 Recorded catch of a typical

small ring net fishing
outf i t .......................... 30
 SMALL RING NET FISHING

by

Danilo O . Maputol
Fishery Extension Specialist I
Provincial Fishery Office
Cagayan de Oro City
PHILIPPINES

INTRODUCTION

Since ring net fishing has proved to be

so effective in catching large schools of pelagic
fish, many Filipino subsistence fishermen were
eager to acquire the net for operating it them­
selves. However, because of their limited skill
and financial constraints, many of them had
to give up the hope of possessing this gear.
Nevertheless, a few fishermen persisted in their
endeavours and through their ingenuity a smaller
version of the gear requiring lower capital
investment was designed. This small ring net
was tested, improved and finally adopted after
it was found to be viable and effective for
catching pelagic fish.

The aim of this manual is to impart to

the subsistence fishermen the basic principles
of designing, constructing and operating the
small ring net. The information has been
gathered through contacts with fishermen and
operators of this fishing gear in the hope that
subsistence fishermen may be able to improve
their status by becoming medium-scale fishermen.
 2

DESCRIPTION OF THE SMALL RING NET

A s m a ll r in g n e t, which is known lo c a ll y
e it h e r as " s e m i- lik o m " o r "s in s o ro n g -g a m a y "is v e ry
s im ila r in s tr u c t u r e to th e o r ig i n a l r in g n e t.
I t v a r ie s from th e l a t t e r o n ly in th e dim ensions
and s p e c if ic a t io n s o f n e t t in g and o th e r m a te ria ls
(see T ab les 1 to 3) as w e ll as in th e s iz e o r
ty p e o f f is h in g c r a f t used f o r i t s o p e ra tio n
(see F ig s . 1 and 2 ) .

T h is gear has a lo ng w a ll o f n e t t in g whose

mesh s iz e g r a d u a lly becomes s m a lle r tow ards th e
b u n t. Both ends o f th e n e t are ta p e re d . The
n e t is p ro v id e d w ith a s e r ie s o f la rg e f lo a t s
on i t s upper rim and w ith le ad s in k e rs on th e
lo w e r p o r t io n . The r in g s are a tta c h e d to th e
le a d li n e s in k e r li n e by means o f b r id l e lin e s
o r s tra p s a t r e g u la r in t e r v a ls . I t is th ro u g h
these r in g s t h a t a purse li n e is passed and
p u lle d to c lo s e th e lo w e r p a r t o f th e n e t p r i o r
to th e h a u lin g o p e ra tio n , th e re b y fo rm in g a
p u rse w hich tra p s th e f i s h .

The f is h in g gear is payed o u t in a c i r c l e

o r sh o t in such a p o s it io n as to s u rro u n d th e
body o f w a te r c o n ta in in g th e s c h o o l, th u s ,
lo c a liz in g th e f i s h . The ca tch is th e n
c o n c e n tra te d in th e bunt o f th e n e t, from which
i t is b r a ile d u s in g a scoop.

The n e t has been found to be e f f e c t iv e f o r

c a tc h in g p e la g ic and o th e r fis h e s such as tu n a ,
m a c k e re l, ro u n d -sca d , m o o n fish , s lip m o u th , as
w e ll as g a r f is h and h a lf- b e a k .
 Table 1. Specifications of a small ring net (548.39 m long by 56.16 m
deep)

No. of Length of N o . of Size of Hanging Length of Width/ No. of No. of

Sections floats sinkers
strips netting (m) knots twine % line (m) depth (m)

A 5 148.5 7 2 10d/6 60 89.1 39.82 371 556

5 148.5 7 210d/6 60 89.1 39.82 371 556

A1

B 8 198.0 10 210d/6 60 118.8 42.55 540 808

8 198.0 10 210d/6 60 118.8 42.55 540 808

B1
3

C 12 99.0 13 210d/6 60 59.4 47.99 297 446

12 99.0 13 210d/6 60 59.4 47.99 297 446

C1

D 6 56.16 14 210d/9 50 13.79 27.59 72 108

E 1 918.6 7 210d/15 - 548.39 5 meshes depth

F 1 918.6 7 210d/15 - 548.39 10 meshes depth

 4

T ab le 2. M a te r ia ls used f o r making a s m a ll
r in g n e t.

P a rts o f n e t S p e c if ic a t io n s o f m a te r ia ls

Wing s e c tio n s (A and A 1) 15 r o l l s N ylon n e t t in g No. 2 1 0 d/6 ,

7K, 200 MD (PAMO)

F i r s t s h o u ld e r (B and B1
) 32 r o l l s N ylon n e t t in g No. 2 1 0 d /6 ,
10K, 200 MD (PAMO)

Second s h o u ld e r (C and C1) 24 r o l l s N ylo n n e t t in g No. 2 1 0 d/6 ,

13K, 200 MD (PAMO)

Bunt s e c tio n (D) 4 r o l l s N ylo n n e t t in g No. 2 10d/ 9 ,

14K, 200 MD (PAMO)

S elvage (E and F) 1 r o l l N ylo n n e t t in g No. 2 1 0 d/1 5 ,

7K, 200 MD (PAMO)

Purse lin e 4 c o ils E ve lo n rope No. 2A

F lo a t li n e 9 c o i l s E velon rope No. 16

Lead l i n e 8 c o ils E velon rope No. 12

B r id le l i n e 1 c o i l E ve lo n rope No. 16

F lo a ts 2 ,4 90 p ie c e s S y n th e tic F lo a ts No. 16
( C lo v e r)

S in k e rs 414 k i l o s Lead S in k e r No. A

Tom w e ig h t 130 k i l o s Lead (a s s o rte d s iz e s )

R ings 45 p ie c e s Brass R ing 10 cm d ia m e te r

Mending tw in e 60 s p o o ls N ylon tw in e No. 210d/6

S ta p lin g tw in e 50 s p o o ls N ylo n tw in e No. 210d/12

 5

T ab le 3 . E stim a te d c o s t o f v e s s e ls , equipm ent

and m a te r ia ls f o r a s m a ll r in g n e t
f is h in g o u t f i t .

I. FISHING BOAT/BANCA

U n it V e sse ls U n it P r ic e T o ta l

1 M other Boat (1 6 .0 5 m x 1 .8 5 m x 1.23 m)

co m p le te w ith a c c e s s o rie s P 85,000 P 85,000

1 S e rv ic e Banca (9 .2 6 m x 0.9 3 m x 0.6 2 m) 5,000 5 ,0 00

S u b -T o ta l P 90,000

II. ENGINES

U n it Equipm ent U n it P ric e T o ta l

1 F uso -C a n ter E ngine 4DR5 ( s u r p lu s )

co m p le te w it h a c c e s s o rie s P 21,000 P 21,000

1 B rig g s and S t r a t t o n E ngine (16 H .P .)

com plete w ith a c c e s s o rie s 12,300 12,300

S u b -T o ta l P 33,300

III. NETTING, ROPES AND OTHER ACCESSORIES

Q u a n tity M a te r ia ls U n it P r ic e T o ta l

1 r o ll M u lt i- n y lo n N e ttin g No. 2 10d/15,

7K, 200 MD (PAMO) P 2 ,3 50 P 2,350

4 r o lls M u lt i- n y lo n N e ttin g No. 2 1 0 d/9 ,

14K, 200 MD (PAMO) 2,217 8,868

24 r o l l s M u lt i- n y lo n N e ttin g No. 2 1 0 d/6 ,

13K, 200MD (PAMO) 2,141 51,384

32 r o l l s M u lt i- n y lo n N e ttin g No. 2 1 0 d /6 ,
10K, 200 MD (PAMO) 1,947 62,304

15 r o d s M u lt i- n y lo n N e ttin g No. 2 1 0 d/6 ,

7K, 200 MD (PAMO) 1,694 25,410

60 s p o o ls N ylo n tw in e No. 210d/6 9 .0 0 540

50 s p o o ls N ylo n tw in e No. 210d/12 9 .0 0 450

 6

T ab le 3. ( c o n t'd )

Q u a n tity M a te r ia ls U n it P r ic e T o ta l

8 c o ils E velon rope No. 12 200.00 1,600

10 c o ils E ve lo n rope No. 16 364.00 3,640

4 c o ils E ve lo n rope No. 24 835.00 3,340

490 p ie c e s S y n th e tic f lo a t s No. 16 (CLOVER) 24.00 59,760

45 p ie c e s Brass r in g 10 cm d ia m e te r 45.00 2,025

414 k ilo s Lead s in k e r No. 4 18.50 7,659

130 k i l o s Lead s in k e r (a s s o rte d s iz e d ) 18.50 2,405

S u b -T o ta l ₱ 231,735
Grand T o ta l ₱ 355,035

N o te : Quoted p ric e s as a t J u ly 1984

 7

Fig. 1 Deck arrangement of a typical small ring net boat.

 8

Fig. 2 Outboard profile of a small ring net boat.

 9

A t y p ic a l s m a ll r in g n e t f is h in g o u t f i t
i s n o rm a lly o p e ra te d by 18 to 25 fis h e rm e n on
board a f is h in g b o a t o f th re e t o s l i g h t l y ove r
e ig h t gro ss to n s .

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

Take n y lo n n e t t in g No. 210 d /6 , 7K

(5 .0 8 cm mesh s tre tc h e d ) w ith a le n g th o f
1,485 m eters and a depth o f 200 meshes and
cu t i t in t o te n equal p a r t s , th e re b y making
each s t r i p measure 148.5 m eters long by 200
meshes deep. By th e mesh t o mesh method, jo i n
th e f i v e s t r i p s o f t h i s n e t t in g along t h e i r
le n g th to make a whole p ie c e m easuring 148.5
m eters lo n g by 1,000 meshes deep, th e n mark i t
S e c tio n A. F o llo w in g th e same p ro c e d u re , jo in
th e o th e r f i v e s t r i p s o f n e t t in g and mark th e
whole p ie c e S e c tio n A1 (see F ig . 3 ) .

Measure and c u t e ig h t s t r i p s o f n y lo n
n e t t in g No. 210 d /6 , 10K (3 .7 8 cm mesh s tr e tc h e d ) ,
each s t r i p m easuring 198 m eters lo ng by 200
meshes deep. J o in th e s t r i p s along t h e i r
le n g th b y th e mesh to mesh method in o rd e r to
make a whole p ie c e m easuring 198 m eters lo ng
by 1,600 meshes deep, th e n mark i t S e c tio n B.
From th e same m a te r ia l, measure and c u t a n o th e r
e ig h t s t r i p s o f n e t t in g w ith each s t r i p 198
m eters lo n g by 200 meshes deep. F o llo w th e
same p ro ce d u re f o r jo in in g and mark th e whole
p ie c e as S e c tio n B1 (see F ig . 3 ) .

U sing a lt e r n a t e ly r a t io s 1:2 and 1:1

( o r 5 : 8 ) , j o i n to g e th e r th e s id e s o f S e c tio n s
A and B, th e n S e c tio n s A1 and B1 along t h e i r
depth (see F ig . 3 ) .
 10

Fig. 3 Method of joining sections A and B

of small ring net
 11

Fig. 4 Method of joining sections B and C

of small ring net.
12
 13

F ig . 5 Method o f jo in in g s e c tio n D to S e c tio n s

C and C f s m a ll r in g n e t.
o
1
 14

F ig . 6 Upper se lva g e p ie c e ( s e c tio n E)

and lo w e r se lvage p ie c e ( s e c tio n F)
and s m a ll r in g n e t.
 15

Measure and c u t tw e lv e s t r i p s o f n y lo n
n e t t in g No. 210 d /6 , 13K (2 .5 4 cm mesh s tre tc h e d )
each s t r i p m easuring 99 m eters lo n g by 200
meshes deep. Make a mesh to mesh j o i n t on th e
s id e s o f each s t r i p a lo n g t h e i r depth t o make
a whole p ie c e o f n e t t in g m easuring 99 m eters
lo n g by 2,400 meshes deep, th e n mark i t S e c tio n
C. From th e same m a t e r ia l, measure and c u t
a n o th e r tw e lv e s t r i p s o f n e t t in g w ith each
s t r i p 99 m eters lo n g by 200 meshes deep.
F o llo w th e same p ro ce d u re f o r jo in in g and mark
th e whole p ie c e as S e c tio n C1 (see F ig . 4 ) .

W ith a r a t io n o f 2 :3 , j o i n th e s id e s o f
S e c tio n s B and C, th e n S e c tio n s B1 and C1 along
t h e i r depth (see F ig . 4 ) .

Measure and c u t s ix s t r i p s o f n y lo n
n e t t in g No. 210 d /9 , 14K (2 .3 4 cm mesh s tre tc h e d )
w ith each s t r i p 56.16 m eters lo n g by 200 meshes
deep. J o in th e s id e s o f th e s t r i p s a lo n g t h e i r
le n g th by th e mesh to mesh method in o rd e r to
make a whole p ie c e o f n e t t in g m easuring 56.16
m ete rs lo n g by 1,200 meshes deep, th e n mark i t
S e c tio n D.

P lace S e c tio n D between th e two la rg e

p ie c e s o f jo in e d n e t t in g s ( i . e . S e c tio n s A, B
and C; and S e c tio n s C1 , B1 and A1) in such a
manner t h a t th e s t r i p s o f n e t t in g are ru n n in g
v e r t i c a l l y , w h ile th o se o f th e two la rg e p ie c e s
are p la c e d h o r iz o n t a lly . W ith a r a t i o o f 1 :1 ,
j o i n one s id e o f S e c tio n D to S e c tio n C and
th e o th e r s id e to S e c tio n C1 (see F ig . 5 ) .
 16

Measure and c u t a s t r i p o f n y lo n n e t t in g
No. 210 d /1 5 , 7K (5 /0 8 cm mesh s tre tc h e d ) w ith
a le n g th o f 918.6 m eters and a depth o f f iv e
meshes. Mark i t S e c tio n E. From th e same
m a te r ia l, measure and c u t a n o th e r s t r i p 918.6
m eters lo n g by te n meshes deep, and mark i t
as S e c tio n F (see F ig . 6 ).

J o in th e upper se lvage p ie c e marked E to

th e o th e r p ie c e s w ith th e fo llo w in g ta k e -u p
r a tio s :

E t o A and E to A1 - 1:1
E to B and E to B
1 - 3 :4
E to C and E to C
1 - 1:2
E to D - 3:13

J o in a ls o th e lo w e r se lvage p ie c e marked
F to th e o th e r p ie c e s w ith th e fo llo w in g ta k e -u p
r a tio s :

F to A and F to A 1 - 1:1
F to B and F to B1 - 3:4
F to C and F to C1 - 1:2
F to D - 3:13

Pass an E velon rope No. 16 th ro u g h th e

o u te r meshes o f th e upper se lva g e to se rve as
th e in n e r hanging l i n e . Spread o u t th e n e t t in g
a lo n g th e li n e to d i s t r ib u t e th e s la c k fo llo w in g
th e re q u ire d fin is h e d measurement in e ve ry
s e c tio n o f th e n e t t in g as g iv e n in th e s t r u c t u r a l
p la n (see F ig . 7 ) . A llo w a c o n s id e ra b le le n g th
o f E velon rope No. 16 f o r th e o u te r hanging l i n e .
 17

J o in to g e th e r th e two hanging lin e s by s t a p lin g ,

a f t e r a llo w in g th e d e s ire d han gin g r a t i o f o r
each s e c tio n o f th e n e t.

Pass a n o th e r E velon rope No. 16 th ro u g h

th e s y n th e tic f lo a t s . F o llo w th e d i s t r i b u t i o n
p a t t e r n o f f lo a t s as s p e c ifie d f o r each s e c tio n
o f th e n e t t in g , th e n s ta p le to g e th e r th e f l o a t
and han gin g lin e s .

W h ile th e a c t i v i t i e s d iscu sse d above are

b e in g c a r r ie d o u t by one group o f n e t m akers,
a n o th e r group sh o u ld be assigned to work on
th e lo w e r se lvage p o r t io n o f th e n e t.

Pass an E velon rope No. 12 th ro u g h th e

o u te r meshes o f th e lo w e r s e lv a g e . D is t r ib u t e
th e s la c k s o f n e t t in g in th e same manner as is
b e in g done f o r th e f l o a t l i n e . Hang th e n e t
to a n o th e r E velon rope No. 12 by s t a p lin g th e
two han gin g lin e s o b s e rv in g th e p re s c rib e d
hanging p e rc e n ta g e . Pass an E velon rope No. 12
th ro u g h th e le a d s in k e rs No. 4. F o llo w th e
d i s t r i b u t i o n p a tte r n o f th e s in k e rs as s p e c ifie d
f o r e ve ry s e c tio n o f th e n e t t in g , th e n s ta p le
to g e th e r th e le ad and hanging lin e s .

Cut f o r t y p ie c e s o f E velon rope No. 16

m easuring 1.8 m eters each f o r th e b r id l e lin e s .
A tta c h a bra ss r in g w ith a d ia m e te r o f 10 cm to
th e end o f each b r id l e l i n e . Secure th e o th e r
ends to th e le a d lin e s t a r t in g from one end o f
th e n e t and o b s e rv in g th e d is ta n c e s between
r in g s as shown in th e s t r u c t u r a l p la n ( F ig . 7 ).
18

Fig. 7 Structural
 19

pla n o f a s m a ll r in g n e t
 20

METHOD OF OPERATION

A s m a ll r in g n e t is e it h e r o p e ra te d d u rin g
th e day o r a t n ig h t , depending on th e presence and
volume o f f i s h .

A f is h in g o p e ra tio n s t a r t s as soon as th e
b o a ts le a v e f o r th e f is h in g ground. F is h d e te c tio n
is th e f i r s t phase o f th e o p e ra tio n and t h i s is
done by em ploying v a rio u s s c o u tin g te c h n iq u e s o r
in s p e c tin g f i s h s h e lte r s and v i s i t i n g lig h t e d
"b a n ca s" a t n ig h t t o d e te rm in e th e volume o f f i s h
t h a t have been lu re d o r a t t r a c t e d .

A. FISH DETECTION

The d i f f e r e n t methods used in s c o u tin g

a schoo l o f f i s h are g e n e r a lly o f a p r a c t ic a l
n a tu re . T h is is due p r im a r il y to th e f a c t t h a t
s o p h is tic a te d e le c t r o n ic d e vice s such as f i s h
f in d e r s are g e n e r a lly beyond th e means o f th e
s m a ll-s c a le fis h e rm e n . Hence, i t is d u rin g t h is
phase o f th e o p e ra tio n t h a t th e s k i l l and
e x p e rie n ce o f th e m aster fisherm an are e s s e n tia l
in f i s h d e te c tio n . Through v is u a l means and
keen o b s e rv a tio n o f th e s u rfa c e o f th e s u rro u n d ­
in g w a te rs , he w i l l search f o r th e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
t h a t n o rm a lly in d ic a te th e presence o f f i s h .
 21

D aytim e s c o u tin g f o r th e presence o f a

sch o o l o f f i s h , known l o c a l l y as "p a n g a la k ", is
done by lo o k in g f o r sim p le in d ic a tio n s such as
th e d i s t i n c t i v e c o lo r a tio n o f th e w a te r, th e
presence o f a f lo c k o f b ir d s , s m a ll bub b le s o r
r ip p le s e m itte d on th e w a te r 's s u rfa c e , and
w a v e le ts a s s o c ia te d w ith f is h movement.
"P a n g a la k" i s d iv id e d in t o o b s e rv a tio n s done
in th e e a r ly m orning c a lle d "p a u lb o " and those
done in th e la t e a fte rn o o n c a lle d " p a la b o " .

N ig h t tim e s c o u tin g o r "pangamag" is a n o th e r

p r a c t ic a l method used f o r se a rc h in g a sch o o l o f
f i s h by means o f th e lum inescence r e f le c t e d by
th e f is h on th e w a te rs s u rfa c e as th e y swim
around. A s k i l l e d m aster fisherm an can de te rm in e
th e sp e cie s and volume o f f i s h from th e n a tu re
and e x te n t o f th e lu m in e sce n ce . S c o u tin g a t
n ig h t is found to be e s p e c ia lly e f f e c t iv e
d u rin g m oonless n ig h t s .

The presence o f f is h in f is h s h e lte r s o r

"paya o" i s d eterm ined e it h e r by th e c o m b in a tio n
o f th e d i f f e r e n t methods m entioned above o r by
means o f d iv e rs who make u n d e rw a te r o b s e rv a tio n s
to e s tim a te th e volume o f f i s h . For f i s h in
lig h t e d "b a n c a s ", o b s e rv a tio n s are made e it h e r
o f t h e lum inescence o r d a r tin g movements o f fis h e s
b e in g a t tr a c t e d o r th e appearance o f s m a ll
bub ble s o r r ip p le s on th e w a te r 's s u rfa c e .
Sometimes, w e ig h te d lin e s are lo w ered in t o th e
w a te r and th e presence o f f is h is d e te c te d
th ro u g h th e v ib r a t io n s tr a n s m itte d a lo n g th e
lin e .
 22

U s u a lly a s m a ll r in g n e t o u t f i t has a t
le a s t one m o to riz e d banca used as a s e r v ic e o r
scout "b a n c a ". T h is i s employed to p a t r o l th e
f is h in g grounds in search o f a sch o o l o f f is h
and a ls o to v i s i t f is h s h e lte r s o r lig h t e d
"b an cas" a t n i g h t . Whenever a c o n s id e ra b le
volume o f f i s h has been fo u n d , th e sco u t "banca"
lo s e s no tim e in r e la y in g p re a rra n g e d s ig n a ls
to th e m other b o a t, to w h ich th e l a t t e r responds
as i t head in th e d ir e c t io n where th e sch o o l o f
f is h has been lo c a te d .

The m other b oa t slow s down as i t approaches

th e area where th e sch o o l o f f i s h is c o n c e n tra te d
and th e engine i s s h if t e d in t o n e u tr a l g e a r.
T h is i s done to a llo w th e m aster fisherm an to
observe th e f is h b e h a v io u r, as w e ll as th e
d ir e c t io n o f th e predom inant w ind o r w a te r
c u r r e n t. The b o a t th e n moves around th e school
a t a ra d iu s o f about 30 m e te rs . T h is method is
g e n e r a lly used when th e sch o o l o f f i s h i s n o t
v e ry a c t iv e as i s th e case when i t has been
lu r e d in t o f i s h s h e lte r s o r a t tr a c t e d b y l i g h t s .

The most d i f f i c u l t phase o f th e o p e ra tio n ,

how ever, is d u rin g daytim e o r n ig h t tim e s c o u n tin g ,
when th e sch o o l is e it h e r a c t iv e ly fe e d in g o r
t r a v e lli n g a c o u rse . The m other b o a t and th e
sco u t "ban ca" have to keep pace w ith th e speed
and d ir e c t io n o f th e sch o o l o f f i s h . Keen
o b s e rv a tio n in t h i s case i s e s s e n tia l in o rd e r
n o t to lo s e s ig h t o f th e moving s c h o o l, and
p ro p e r tim in g i s lik e w is e r e q u ire d in s e t tin g
th e n e t.

The proced ure s f o r s e t t in g , p u rs in g and

h a u lin g th e n e t d e s c rib e d below a re i l l u s t r a t e d
in F ig u re 8.
 23

F ig . 8 O p e ra tio n o f s m a ll r in g n e t.
 24

B. SETTING THE NET

The n e t i s s e t in th e d ir e c t io n o f th e
w ind o r w a te r c u r re n t w h ich e ve r i s dom inant,
excep t when th e above-m entioned f a c to r s are
to o s tro n g .

F i r s t a buoy, t ie d w ith a c o n s id e ra b le
le n g th o f rope to th e end o f th e f l o a t l i n e ,
is thro w n o v e rb o a rd . P aying o u t th e c o ils o f
n e t s t a r t s as th e m other b o a t moves to e n c ir c le
th e f i s h . A d iv e r jumps in t o th e w a te r as soon
as th e upper w ing end p o r t io n o f th e n e t has
been thro w n o u t in o rd e r to f i x i t s p o s it io n
and to h o ld th e lo o s e end o f th e purse tim e .
P rope r tim in g i s e s s e n tia l d u rin g th e e n c ir c lin g
o p e ra tio n to ensure th a t bo th ends o f th e n e t
m eet. When th e la s t p o r t io n o f th e n e t has
been th ro w n o u t, a n o th e r d iv e r h o ld in g th e o th e r
end o f th e p u rse li n e must im m e d ia te ly jump in t o
th e w a te r.

Upon c o m p le tio n o f th e c i r c l e , th e engine

is s h if t e d in t o n e u tr a l gear and th e n b ro u g h t
to a s to p . F is h in g crew members p o s it io n
them selves in p re -d e s ig n a te d areas o f th e m other
b o a t. The buoy lin e s are hooked up and r e tr ie v e d
on b o a rd , g r a d u a lly h a u lin g in b o th ends o f th e
f l o a t lin e s in o rd e r to keep th e b re a s t lin e s o f,
th e n e t p a r a l l e l to each o th e r . The fr e e ends
o f th e p urse li n e b e in g h e ld by th e d iv e rs are
passed up to th e crew members aboard th e b o a t,
who in t u r n w i l l pass them th ro u g h th e s lin g s
on th e tom w e ig h t. The l a t t e r i s th e n re le a s e d
u n t i l i t reaches th e b o tto m c o rn e rs o f th e n e t.
 25

I t shou ld be n o te d t h a t b r i g h t l y c o lo u re d
buoys must be used as m arkers to d is tin g u is h
them e a s ily . D u rin g n ig h t - t im e o p e ra tio n s , i t
i s nece ssary to p ro v id e th e buoys w ith a l i g h t
so th a t th e y can be e a s ily seen.

C. PURSING

P u rs in g i s s ta r te d im m e d ia te ly a f t e r
s e t t in g th e n e t. The fr e e ends o f th e purse
l i n e are wound two o r th re e tim e s around th e
head o f th e li n e h a u le r . The tra n s m is s io n is
th e n engaged to s t a r t th e o p e ra tio n o f th e li n e
h a u le r to heave in th e p u rse li n e s . I f th e li n e
h a u le r i s m a n u a lly o p e ra te d , two fis h e rm e n ,
one on each s id e , tu r n i t s y s te m a tic a lly to
c lo s e th e b o ttom o f th e n e t. They a re a s s is te d
by a n o th e r two fis h e rm e n who ta k e a f ir m h o ld
o f th e p u rse li n e and p u l l b o th ends s im u lta n ­
e o u s ly to p re v e n t th e li n e fro m s lip p in g
because o f th e tom w e ig h t. A n o th e r fish e rm a n
c o i ls th e p urse l i n e . The manual l i n e h a u le r
must be tu rn e d as f a s t as p o s s ib le to p re v e n t
th e f is h from d iv in g and escap ing below th e
le a d lin e s o f th e n e t.

A spare l i n e , w hich is p ro v id e d w ith s t r i p s

o f w h ite p l a s t i c m a te r ia l and a stone w e ig h t a t
th e end, i s dropped in s id e th e e n c lo s u re formed
by th e n e t, d i r e c t l y o p p o s ite th e b re a s t lin e s .
T h is spare li n e must be moved up and down
c o n tin u o u s ly to p re v e n t th e f is h from g e t t in g
near th e b re a s t lin e s and escape th ro u g h the
o p e n in g . A t n ig h t , a f la s h l i g h t is used and
 26

d ir e c te d on th e opening o f th e b re a s t l i n e .
The l i g h t is made to c r is s c r o s s p a r a l le l to th e
le n g th o f th e f is h in g b o a t. Extreme care must
be ta ke n n o t to d i r e c t th e l i g h t on th e schoo l
o f f i s h so as n o t to scare them o u t o f th e
e n c lo s u re .

W h ile t h i s i s b e in g done, th e o th e r
f is h in g crew members g r a d u a lly p u l l th e f l o a t
lin e s and p la c e them on deck along th e gunwale
o f th e m other b o a t engaged in th e h a u lin g
o p e ra tio n . A c o n s id e ra b le le n g th o f rope is
t ie d to th e m id sh ip p o r t io n o f th e m other boat
and th e s e rv ic e "banca" p u lls th e boat in th e
o p p o s ite d ir e c t io n to th e fo rc e o f a c tio n to
p re v e n t d e fo rm a tio n o f th e n e t.

Once th e b o ttom o f th e n e t has been c lo s e d ,

th e tom w e ig h t, in c lu d in g th e bunch o f r in g s ,
is h a u le d aboard.

D. HAULING THE NET

A h a u lin g o p e ra tio n i s done e it h e r on th e

p o r t o r s ta rb o a rd s id e depending on th e d e sig n
o f th e b o a t. The f is h in g crew members h a u l th e
w ings and body o f th e n e t m a n u a lly on board the
boat in a rh y th m ic m o tio n , fo llo w in g th e u n d u la tin g
movement o f th e waves. The o p e ra tio n must be
p r o p e r ly s y n ch ro n ize d to e v e n ly d i s t r ib u t e th e
s la c k o f th e n e t. H a u lin g must c o n tin u e u n t i l
th e f is h are c o n c e n tra te d a t th e b u n t p o r t io n
o f th e n e t. The ca tc h is then b a ile d o u t w ith
a la rg e scoop o r d ip n e t, and p la c e d in boxes.
 27

OPERATION OF A FISH SHELTER

G e n e ra lly , s m a ll r in g n e t f is h in g in v o lv e s
th e use o f an a cce sso ry d e v ic e c a lle d a f is h
s h e lt e r , l o c a l l y known as "p a y a o ", f o r a t t r a c t in g
sch o o ls o f f i s h , m a in ly s u rfa c e swimming s p e c ie s ,
such as s a r d in e / h e r r in g , m a c k e re l, scad, tu n a and
t u n a - lik e f is h e s .

A f i s h s h e lte r c o n s is ts o f an anchored
bamboo r a f t p ro v id e d w ith coconut le a ve s w hich
a f fo r d a re fu g e f o r th e f i s h . A lgae and o th e r
m arine l i f e t h a t become a tta c h e d t o and grow
on th e s e le a ve s are fo o d f o r s m a lle r fis h e s
w hich in t u r n serve as b a it to a t t r a c t tu n a and
s im ila r sp e cie s o f f i s h t h a t fe e d on them.

On d ark n ig h t s , th e f i s h s h e lt e r is
p ro v id e d w ith li g h t s to a t t r a c t th e f i s h . It
is checked r e g u la r ly to a s c e r ta in w hether th e
sch o o l o f f i s h i s la rg e enough to w a rra n t i t s
c a p tu r e .

I f , upon in s p e c tio n , th e q u a n tity o f f is h

i s found to be c o n s id e r a b le , th e m aster fisherm an
is im m e d ia te ly n o t i f i e d and he in fo rm s h is
f is h in g crew about th e o p e ra tio n to be conducted.
The n e t is th e n p re p a re d f o r s e t t in g .

The anchor rope o f th e f i s h s h e lt e r is

disengaged from th e r a f t and a llo w e d to d r i f t
c le a r o f th e anchor l i n e . The n e t is payed o u t
in a c i r c l e around th e f i s h s h e lt e r and h a u lin g
fo llo w s th e p ro ce d u re d e s c rib e d above.

A f t e r each h a u lin g o p e ra tio n , th e f is h

s h e lte r is towed back and secured to i t s anchor
ro p e .
 28

SYSTEM OF SHARING PROCEEDS FROM THE CATCH

As f o r o th e r ty p e s o f f is h in g g e a r, th e
t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t ic e o f s h a rin g th e income o f
a s m a ll r in g n e t f is h in g o p e ra tio n has up to
th e p re s e n t been adopted by F i l i p i n o fis h e rm e n .
The s h a rin g scheme, how ever, may d i f f e r s l i g h t l y
from one p la c e t o a n o th e r o r in accordance w ith
th e agreement between th e f is h in g b o a t o p e ra to r
and th e f is h in g crew s.

F i r s t , th e t o t a l e x p e n d itu re in c u rr e d
d u rin g th e f is h in g o p e ra tio n , such as crude o i l ,
g a s o lin e , lu b r ic a n t s , s u b s is te n c e o f th e crew
members and m is c e lla n e o u s expenses, i s deducted
from th e gross e a rn in g s d e riv e d from th e s a le o f
th e c a tc h . The n e t proceeds are th e n d iv id e d
in t o two equal p a r ts between th e f is h in g boa t
o p e ra to r and th e crew members.

The share o f th e o p e ra to r is most o fte n

used f o r th e upkeep o f th e f is h in g o u t f i t and
i t s equipm ent, payment o f lo a n a m o r tiz a tio n o r
as a r e tu r n f o r h is c a p it a l in v e s tm e n t as th e
case may be.

The share o f th e crew members, on th e

o th e r hand, is d iv id e d among them as payment f o r
th e work done d u rin g th e f is h in g o p e ra tio n . The
number o f shares f o r each fis h e rm a n v a r ie s
a c c o rd in g t o h is p o s it io n o r th e n a tu re o f th e
work u n d e rta ke n d u rin g th e o p e ra tio n .

An example o f th e s h a rin g scheme g e n e r a lly

fo llo w e d by crew members o f a s m a ll r in g n e t
f is h in g e s ta b lis h m e n t is g iv e n below :
 29

No. o f
D e s ig n a tio n / Number o f
Crew
P o s itio n shares
Members

1 M a s te rfis h e rm a n 2 shares p lu s 15%

o f th e o p e r a to r 's
share

2 M arine e n g in e e rs 2 shares each

2 D iv e rs 1¼ shares each
p lu s 5% o f th e
o p e r a to r 's share

4 Net o p e ra to rs 1¼ shares each

1 Cook 1¼ shares
1 S e rv ic e "ban ca"
o p e ra to r 1¼ shares

7 O rd in a ry fis h e rm e n 1¼ shares each

T o ta l 18

When th e f i s h has been caught th ro u g h th e

a id o f a f i s h s h e lte r o r a lig h t e d "b a n c a ", one-
t h i r d o f th e v a lu e o f th e t o t a l c a tc h o r gross
e a rn in g s from th e s a le o f f i s h is s e t a s id e as
th e share o f th e owner o f th e f i s h s h e lte r o r
o p e ra to r o f th e lig h t e d "b a n c a ". As f o r th e
re m a in in g tw o - th ir d s share o f th e ca tc h o r gross
e a rn in g s from s a le s , a s im ila r p ro ce d u re as
d e s c rib e d above is fo llo w e d , i . e . , th e o p e ra tin g
expenses are deducted and th e n e t income is shared .

T a b le 4 g iv e s th e re c o rd e d c a tc h o f a
t y p ic a l s m a ll r in g n e t f is h in g o u t f i t , in c lu d in g
th e volume and gross s a le s o f th e ca tc h by
sp e cie s o f f i s h .
 30

T ab le 4. Recorded ca tc h o f a t y p ic a l s m a ll
r in g n e t f is h in g o u t f i t .

Gross Sales
Month Number of days Volume of Species of fish
of Catch
(1983) in operation catch (kg)
( i n Pesos)

January 7 4,454.0 ₱ 14,393.00 Frigate tuna, round

scad, yellow fin
tuna

February 18 16,457.0 51,446.00 Frigate tuna, round

scad, slipmouth

March 14 8,372,0 25,138.00 Frigate tuna, h a lf­

beak, slipmouth

April 17 16,059.0 40,756.00 Frigate tuna,

sardi ne/herring

May 17 4,658.0 16,441.00 Frigate tuna,

slipmouth

June 17 266.0 956.00 Frigate tuna,

Spanish mackerel

July * - - - -

August 13 48.4 252.00 Sardi ne/herring,

mullet

September 20 256.0 1, 261.00 Frigate tuna,

garfish

October ** - - - -

November 4 193.5 1,679.00 Frigate tuna

December 3 64.5 451.00 Frigate tuna

TOTAL 130 50,828.4 ₱ 152,773.00

* No fish in g operation. Fishing boat was dry docked.

** No fish in g operation owing to adverse weather conditions and
off-seasonal occurrence of fis h .
 31

LIST OF SAFIS EXTENSION MANUALS

SEC/SM/1 Khumua lia n g p la namcheut (F re sh w a te r

F is h Farm ing: How to B e g in ) ,
( o r i g i n a l: E n g lis h ; t r a n s la t e d : T h a i)

SEC/SM/2 O yste r C u ltu re ( o r i g i n a l: Bahasa M a la y s ia ;

tr a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/3 Mussel C u ltu re ( o r i g i n a l : Bahasa M a la y s ia ;

tr a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/4 Ang pagpuna ug pagtapak sa p u k o t (Net

Mending and P a tc h in g ), ( o r i g i n a l: E n g lis h ;
t r a n s la t e d : Cebuano-Bisaya)

SEC/SM/5 Mussel Farm ing ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/6 M enternak Ik a n A irta w a r (F re sh w a te r F is h

Farm ing: How to B e g in ), ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ;
t r a n s la t e d : Bahasa M a la y s ia )

SEC/SM/7 Makanan dan Pemakanan Udang Harim au,

Penaeus monodon ( N u t r it io n and Feeding o f
Sugpo, Penaeus monodon) , ( o r i g i n a l :
E n g lis h ; t r a n s la t e d : Bahasa M a la y s ia )

SEC/SM/8 M acrobrachium C u ltu re ( o r i g i n a l : T h a i;

t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/9 S e le c tio n o f M a rin e Shrim p f o r C u ltu re

( o r i g i n a l: T h a i; t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/10 Induced B reed ing o f T h a i S ilv e r Carp

( o r i g i n a l : T h a i; t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )
 32

SEC/SM/11 C u ltu re o f Sea Bass ( o r i g i n a l : T h a i;

t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/12 Sm oke-curing o f F is h ( o r i g i n a l: E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/13 C ockle C u ltu re ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/14 Net Mending and P a tc h in g ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/15 K a n lia n g hoy malangphu (Mussel F a rm in g ),

( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ; t r a n s la t e d : T h a i)

SEC/SM/16 N u rse ry Management o f Prawns ( o r i g i n a l:

Bahasa In d o n e s ia ; t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/17 C u ltu re o f S u lta n F is h (Leptoba rbu s

h o e v e n ii) , ( o r i g i n a l : Bahasa M a la y s ia ;
t r a n s la t e d : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/18 The Use o f th e T r a d it io n a l D ry in g Method

and S o la r D r ie r f o r C ro a k e r, M u lle t and
H e rrin g ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/19 Shrimp C u ltu re ( o r i g i n a l : T h a i; tr a n s la t e d :

E n g lis h )

SEC/SM/20 Rok P laa (F is h D is e a s e s ), ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ;

t r a n s la t e d : T h a i)

SEC/SM/21 K a n lia n g phomae pan kung kuladam (B rood­

s to c k o f Sugpo, Penaeus monodon, F a b r ic iu s ) ,
( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ; tr a n s la t e d : T h a i)

SEC/SM/22 Nakakaing K rustasyo ng P ilip in a s ( F ie ld

Guide to E d ib le C rustacea o f th e P h ilip p in e s ) ,
( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ; t r a n s la t e d : Tagalog)
 33

SEC/SM/23 Khumua k a n lia n g p la a n a i krasang t h i

S ingapore la e In d o n e s ia ( F lo a tin g N e t-
cage F is h Fanning in S inga pore and
In d o n e s ia ), ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h ;
t r a n s la t e d : T h a i)

SEC/SM/24 Sm all Ring Net F is h in g ( o r i g i n a l : E n g lis h )

 34

SAFIS

0 What i s SAFIS?

SAFIS i s th e S outheast A sia n

F is h e r ie s I n fo rm a tio n S e rv ic e .
I t i s a p r o je c t o f th e SEAFDEC
S e c r e ta r ia t s e t up to p ro v id e
e x te n s io n m a te r ia ls f o r
s m a ll-s c a le fis h e rm e n and f is h
fa rm e rs in th e re g io n .

0 What are i t s o b je c tiv e s ?

The im m ediate o b je c tiv e s are

to c o l le c t and com pile f is h e r ie s
e x te n s io n m anuals, b ro c h u re s ,
pam phlets and r e la te d a id s f o r
s m a ll-s c a le f is h e r ie s developm ent,
and to t r a n s la t e s e le c te d l i t e r a ­
tu r e in t o lo c a l languages f o r
d i s t r i b u t i o n to f is h e r ie s e x te n ­
s io n w o rke rs in S outheast A s ia .
 35

0 What s e rv ic e s w i l l SAFIS p ro v id e ?

SAFIS w i l l a tte m p t to p ro v id e
in fo r m a tio n and p u b lic a tio n s
such as:

l i s t s o f a v a ila b le t e x ts in
f is h e r ie s e x te n s io n s e rv ic e s ,

t r a n s la t io n o f s u ita b le m anuals,

- manuals o f a p p ro p ria te te c h n o lo g ie s ,

- p h o to c o p ie s o f a p p ro p ria te
f is h e r ie s e x te n s io n l i t e r a t u r e ,

a c u r re n t awareness s e rv ic e o f
r e g io n a l f is h e r ie s .

0 How much w i l l these s e rv ic e s cost?

A nom in al fe e o f US $0.15 p e r page

w i l l be charged f o r p h o to c o p y in g ,
h a n d lin g , and s u rfa c e m a il. A ir m a il
c o s ts w i l l be e x tr a . The p u b lic a t io n
c o s t p e r manual w i l l v a ry a c c o rd in g
to th e book.
 36

SAFIS is g r a t e f u l f o r f in a n c ia l
s u p p o rt re c e iv e d from th e
I n t e r n a t io n a l Development
Research C entre (IDRC) o f Canada.
SAFIS is the Southeast Asian Fisheries Information Ser­
vice. It is a project of the SEAFDEC Secretariat set up to
provide extension materials for small - scale fishermen
and fish farmers in the region. For additional informa­
tion, contact the Project Leader of SAFIS
SEAFDEC Liaison Office
956 Rama IV Road
Olympia Building, 4th floor
Bangkok 10500, Thailand