For a long time, coastal communities in the central Philippines have balanced two sources of income. There are risks associated with either sending boats out to fish or tending rows of seaweed lines stretched over shallow lagoons. Seasonal variations in fish catches and global demand for seaweed can cause a household to run out of food or money during a challenging year. A young marine researcher was initially drawn to the area by this daily balancing act that took place in dozens of small island settlements, and it ultimately resulted in one of the more peculiar fishing net recycling stories in contemporary ocean conservation.
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