In the central Philippines (Visayas) fisherman collect rare cowries, murex, cones and slit shells etc by using tangle nets (lumen lumen). Fishermen simply fold up long, wide mesh 2-5 cm worn out fish nets into a loose sausage shape, tied at intervals and weighted down to keep net on bottom. The mollusks become enmeshed in the folds. The tangle nets become an artificial structure habitat that the larval veligers attach to and use as shelter during daytime as they grow. Sunlight is still detectable at down to 600 hundred feet or so where these rare deep water species are collected. Tangle nets are deployed on reef drop-offs (cliff and steep slopes) with buoy markers. As mollusks are nocturnal and rest in cavities during day time is when the nets are pulled up after leaving them for many weeks up to months at a time. High price of fuel and new environmental laws have reduced this method of collecting nowadays.
The rare species of cowries are for most part inaccessibility to their natural habit in very deep water beyond scuba level. Some of the rarest are only obtained from commercial fishing trawls and traps. South Africa and Philippines are have the diverse varieties of rare cowries. Australia though has highest prices paid for cowries. One recent species has sold upwards of around 50k.
In the central Philippines (Visayas) fisherman collect rare cowries, murex, cones and slit shells etc by using tangle nets (lumen lumen). Fishermen simply fold up long, wide mesh 2-5 cm worn out fish nets into a loose sausage shape, tied at intervals and weighted down to keep net on bottom. The mollusks become enmeshed in the folds. The tangle nets become an artificial structure habitat that the larval veligers attach to and use as shelter during daytime as they grow. Sunlight is still detectable at down to 600 hundred feet or so where these rare deep water species are collected. Tangle nets are deployed on reef drop-offs (cliff and steep slopes) with buoy markers. As mollusks are nocturnal and rest in cavities during day time is when the nets are pulled up after leaving them for many weeks up to months at a time. High price of fuel and new environmental laws have reduced this method of collecting nowadays.
This was really interesting - thank you! I wish it was illegal to harvest any gastropods or bivalves for their shells!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I would never have guessed, about the mantle. What insight you have!
Awesome video
The rare species of cowries are for most part inaccessibility to their natural habit in very deep water beyond scuba level. Some of the rarest are only obtained from commercial fishing trawls and traps. South Africa and Philippines are have the diverse varieties of rare cowries. Australia though has highest prices paid for cowries. One recent species has sold upwards of around 50k.
Hello new friend....😍😲