From Inquiry to Insight: The Journey of Conducting Community-Based Research on Dulong Fishing

    Our local research, "Beyond the Net: Understanding the Impact of Dulong Fish on Fishermen's Lives and Communities," ventured into Fuerte, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur's fishing industry. Because the livelihood in the region is dependent on fishing, our study probed how the Dulong fishing affects the economic stability, health, and lifestyle of the indigenous fishermen. It is important to learn about the challenges and potential of the business to help in safeguarding the community and heritage.

    We discovered that Dulong fishing is the primary livelihood and subsistence for the majority of the families. The business is, however, exposed to several threats including environmental degradation, overfishing, and market limitations that would lower profitability. We also furthered our knowledge more through interviews and sending open-ended questionnaires to the fishermen, from whom we got direct information regarding their nightmares and dreams. We approached with circumspection the analysis of their histories and voices, which bore witness to the rigors of their existence.

    Our findings indicate that there must be environmentally friendly fishing, better economic prospects, and more people's participation to render Dulong fishing sustainable. Addressing these concerns can allow us to build a more robust local economy without diminishing the traditions that make up Caoayan's fishing communities. In the years to come, there should be attempts in finding ways to reconcile development and sustainability so that the coming generations will be able to enjoy the bounty of this massive industry.

    Our research process began with careful planning within our team to establish some goals, allocate tasks, and formulate a proper data collection plan. We chose our topic carefully, formulated key questions for the survey, and prepared interviews to gather detailed findings.

    Once the data was gathered, we particularly made sure that analysis of answers was directed towards identifying trends and concerns of the fishermen. It also enabled us to record both the economic, as well as the overall social, impact of Dulong fishing on society.

    The highlight of carrying out our research was the interaction with Fuerte, Caoayan, as well as the fishermen. We did in-depth interviews to inquire about their lives, issues of their sector, and the importance of Dulong fishing in their livelihood. All of them bemoaned low prices from the market, fluctuating supplies of fish, and environmental concerns jeopardizing their livelihood. The narratives told showed not just their adversity but also the resilience and stubbornness in sustaining their business. These results concurred with the urgent call for sustainable fishing and community-level interventions in order to ensure the survival of the industry.