Trawls rigged with wooden, iron and rubber roller bobbins have been in use in other countries a long time ago. In the Philippines, however, their use was started only two or three years ago, operated mostly in rough grounds. There are many places in the Philippines where this kind of trawl can be operated successfully such as Visayan Sea, Asid Gulf waters around Bohol and many other places which will serve as potential ground for this kind of rigged trawl.
In many European countries the use of plastic roller bobbins began only a year ago. This paper will therefore describe the experience when it was tested in the Philippines.
The preliminary trial tests of trawl rigged with plastic roller bobbins and oval board were performed on board the “F/B Maharlika de Visayas” owned and operated by the Bormont Fishing Corparation of Iloilo City. The trial experiments were carried out through the initiative and joint cooperation of the Philippine Fisheries Commission, (now the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), United Nations Development Program (PFC-UNDP), and the Bormont Fishing Corporation under the supervision of the authors and Mr. Karl Einarsen, FAO Masterfishermen. If proven successful, fishing boat operators in Iloilo City and Negros may adopt the innovation.