Rama Project: Marine Structure
Objectives:
- Create and present a biodesign project that focuses on designing with life (meaning that some part of the design includes living organisms)
- Implement design strategies that reduce impact on the planet, are socially considerate and meet the needs of living things
Project Duration: March – May 2022
Designed For: Biodesign course, Pratt Institute
Role: Student, Sustainable Design Programme
Overview: A marine species recruitment structure made from non-toxic materials, that can serve as an alternative habitat and space for recolonisation of species affected by damaged coral reefs due to destructive fishing practices such as dynamite fishing in the Philippines.
A redesign of a traditional fishing structure into a structure that can help restore depleted fish populations and community livelihoods.
From interviewing community members, I found out that some fisherfolk in Liw-Liwa used to catch and sell aquarium fish using a specific fishing structure called a ‘rama’.
They made the rama structure with bamboo, anchored it to the sandy bottom and tied it to a foam float. They’d leave the bundle long enough so that algae would grow on the surface and recruit different fish species commonly found in coral reefs, which they would then catch and sell in the aquarium fish trade. In 2010, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources spoke with the local fisherfolk and banned the use of ramas for the aquarium fish trade.
Marine ecosystem degradation: Up until the late 1990s, local fisherfolk used dynamite and cyanide to kill and catch fish at coral reefs. Now, many of the coral reefs where they used to fish are unhealthy or heavily degraded. Even though the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) spoke with fisherfolk about the impacts of these illegal fishing practices, the local fisherfolk still hear and see dynamite being used at the offshore reefs by other fisherfolk from outside the community.
Non-selective fishing gear: Gill nets are commonly used because fisherfolk can catch more fish with them (rather than hook and line or spearfishing). The nets are made out of nylon with foam floats and lead sinkers. When the nets get stuck on rocks or corals, the fisherfolk cut them loose and leave them. Marine life are indiscriminately caught in these nets that are left in the ocean.
Sustainable livelihoods: Fishing and fish processing is no longer a sustainable source of income for community members. Since the noticeable decline in fish catches, many of the local fisherfolk don’t catch enough to sell to local or domestic fish resellers—they often catch just enough for a meal for their families or don’t catch anything at all.
Lack of stewardship initiatives: The growing tourism industry and influx of people have generated more trash and pollutants in the community and marine environment. Liw-Liwa has no proper waste management system and there is a lack of marine conservation efforts in the coastal community and municipality of San Felipe in general.
Limited fisheries governance: There is no active monitoring and enforcement of fishing regulations with regards to illegal fishing practices. BFAR told the fisherfolk they were going to implement fishing zones (each municipality can only fish in their municipal boundaries) but they didn’t follow through with it.
- Integrated systems approach: marine conservation and restoration + creating sustainable livelihoods
- Participatory design: actively engages with marine scientists, community members and leverages the knowledge of place
- Choice of materials: life-friendly and biodegradable
While there are many places to intervene on ocean-related issues, I chose a systems approach, which not only looks at the needs of marine species and ecosystems, but also the needs of the coastal community that’s connected to the place. Learning about and witnessing the impacts that the decline in fish stocks and coral reef health had/still has on the community members in Liw-Liwa (Philippines), I was motivated to centre my project on how we can regenerate marine species populations, ecosystems and livelihoods in the community. In particular, what are the opportunities to create a system that allows human and non-human life to thrive?
A place-specific project such as this requires co-design and engagement with those who live in that place, which is why I took the time to speak with various community members (older fisherfolk, children of fisherfolk and those involved in fish processing and selling). This project works to leverage the knowledge of place that the community members have. The proposed design ended up repurposing a traditional fishing structure into a structure that can help restore depleted fish populations and community livelihoods. To ensure that the structure prevents harm to marine species and ecosystems, I also thought about the materials that are used/end up in the ocean and how we can design them with retrieval and planned degradation in mind.