Assessing the Productivity of GPS Waypoints App in Purse Seine Fishing Among Rural Folks

Abstract

 This study will assess the productivity of GPS Waypoints App in purse seine fishing among fishermen of Brgy. Langgao, Cabucgayan, Biliran. The researchers utilized a quantitative approach to determine the productivity of GPS Waypoints App in purse seine fishing. Descriptive statistics is applied to analyze the data through tables to know the background of the respondents and assess the productivity of GPS Waypoints App in terms of accuracy, operability, and affordability. The researchers also observed the behavior and outcomes of the operations of two purse seine vessels, one equipped with GPS Waypoints App and the other unequipped with the said application. Based on the findings, a purse seine vessel that uses GPS Waypoints App is more productive compared to a purse seine vessel without a GPS Waypoints App. After thorough observation, the App is effective in finding the Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and lessens the burden of fishermen in locating the FADs, increasing weight of catch, and decreases time of travel. The GPS Waypoints App is revealed to be very helpful to fisherman by accurately locating the FADs and solves their problems in navigating hard to find FADs due to its far location, and ensuring they will never get late in the operating time where fishes are mostly active, thus helping them to have enough time preparing their fishing gears and improving fishing techniques.