This promising town with pristine white beaches fronting Luzon’s Pacific coast celebrated its 49th founding anniversary on Wednesday, and the 2018 “Ikan” Festival on Thursday. “A decade ago, fish catch was very much abundant. Now that modern fishing techniques using trawlers and aggregate ‘payaw’ fish shelters, foreign fishermen could catch as much as 4 to 5 tons per harvest, but it has resulted in the decline of catch for fishermen using traditional methods,” explained Divilacan Mayor Venturito C. Bulan. By creating artificial shelters suspended underwater using a line connected to a floating buoy and at least three sinkers, smaller fish species that gather around the shelter will lure bigger fish to come near. During harvest, a large net would then encircle the ‘payaw’, catching everything around the shelter.

Almirol, A. (2018, June 26). Isabela fishing town celebrates 'Ikan' Festival. Manila Standard, p. B4