MANILA, Philippines – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. is urging fishermen to venture into fish farming owing to the increasingly unpredictable and debilitating weather disturbances in the country.
Fish catch, particularly in the municipal and commercial fisheries sectors, have been greatly affected by the erratic weather disturbances experienced due to climate change, he said.
“The fisheries sector, particularly the municipal fisherfolk is the most vulnerable to climate change,” Sarmiento told some 50 fisherfolk leaders during the recent ”Mangingisdang Direktor” program of the agency held in Davao City.
Citing findings of world renowned scientists, Sarmiento stressed that climate change is drastically affecting fishing, making fishing trips more perilous as fishermen are force to venture farther out to sea to catch fish.
“Climate change would definitely affect the fish stocks because the spawning habit of the fishes as well as their migratory patterns may change drastically. Already, many fishermen are reporting that catching fish is becoming more difficult,” he noted.
As the seas warm up, Sarmiento said coral bleaching is becoming more pronounced and harmful algal blooms increase.
Coral bleaching directly affect coral reefs, which are the nursery grounds of many small fishes.
Algal blooms may lead in the increase of red tide and ciguatera poisoning incidences.
Ciguatera is a foodborne illness in humans caused by eating marine species contaminated with a toxin called ciguatoxin present in some algaes.
“The farming of fish in sea cages ensures the fishermen of a more regular harvest and therefore a more regular source of income. Unlike in fishing that would require the use of expensive fuels, fish farming using fish cages only requires constant caring and feeding of the fish stocks in a specific location,” Sarmiento said.
“The technology of sea farming is simple and the fishermen could easily learn it. Adoption of the technology does not require a lot from the fishermen since they are not weaned from their usual source of livelihood,” he added.
For the past eight years, BFAR has been promoting the culture of fish in sea cages in mariculture parks.