Capture fisheries have been traditional modes of livelihoods for many local lagoon inhabitants. It involves amazingly diverse activities, which are reflected in a wide range of fishing gears that are used by the local fisherfolk. Especially for those who do not have enough capital to invest in aquaculture, it is one of a few livelihoods options available.

Increasing number of fishing gears in the lagoon water, together with prevalence of destructive fishing activities, has inevitable impacts on the lagoon ecosystem and biological stock. Too many and densely installed fishing gears prevent water circulation in the lagoon, which has been for ages the principal clean-up mechanism of the lagoon and the oxygen replenishment for the waters.

With the emerging number of aquaculture ponds, these fishing gears also trap pollutants from these ponds, deteriorating the lagoon ecosystem as a whole. At the same time, if the mesh size of the fishing net is too small, the fishing gear also captures juvenile fish, which should be left in a water for maintaining fish population. Protection of spawning/breeding grounds from fishing activities are another issue related to the maintenance of a rich and diverse lagoon fish population.

Reflecting the above issues, the IMOLA Project has been conducting the following four activities related to capture fisheries:

	Fishing capacity survey		Stake trap (no sao) mapping and rearrangement
	Selectivity experiment		Demarcation and protection of spawing ground