Region 10 fisherfolk look forward to bountiful harvests

The second quarter this year had been most productive for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 10’s interactive labor and management approach in cooperation with several local government units (LGUs).

According to Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor, "this was achieved in the area of production support services, post harvest services, regulatory services, research and information, education campaign. The projects are designed for improved fishery production and income generation among the fishing communities. In due time, the fishermen-stakeholders of the region will be benefited with bountiful aquaculture and marine harvests."

Among the big projects are the municipal hatcheries set up in Manolo Fortich and Maramag in Bukidnon. BFAR 10 shared P298,500 which covered the costs of construction materials, feeds, fertilizers and fingerlings for the operation and technical personnel. LGU-Manalo Fortich and LGU-Maramag donated municipal government lands, as well as, funds to finance the continuing operation. Construction and setting up of management procedure and personnel is almost complete.

The two Bukidnon LGUs together with Cabanglasan got their lakes and small water impounding projects (SWIP) stocked with around 20,000 tilapia fingerlings, with an additional delivery of 10,000 fingerlings. As requested by the LGU, a dam of Napocor in Maramag is now stocked with growing tilapia.

On the other hand, three provinces got their marine cage projects rehabilitated while other sites are assessed and evaluated for the setting up of more marine cage projects.

Tangub City, Silanga, Plaridel, Baliangao, Aloran, Panaon and Sapang Dalaga in Misamis Occidental had their fish cages rehabilitated and stocked with 12,000 saline tilapia fingerlings per cage.

In Misamis Oriental, fish cages in Laguindingan destroyed by a typhoon were rehabilitated with cages in circular form. Fishermen were also trained on safeguards during typhoons. Stocking of 10,000 bangus fingerlings was also implemented. As marine fish cage facilities are eyed from Talisayan, site assessment and evaluation had been done. Site assessment and evaluation had also been conducted in Mahinog, Camiguin.

Also in Misamis Oriental, 230 Tilapia fingerlings were being grown in drums in a project of LGU-Kinoguitan. Some 10,000 fingerlings were given to a fish farmers’ association in Claveria.

Three LGUs in Misamis Occidental (Panaon, Lopez Jaena and Tangub City) received 10,000 fingerlings each. Lopez Jaena got an added bonus of being chosen as the proposed site for a seaweed dryer.

Marine engines (16-HP Briggs & Stratton), a patrol boat and global positioning system (GPS) were made available to the following beneficiaries: one unit marine engine each for Mambajao, Camiguin and Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental. Gitagum, Naawan, El Salvador and Talisayan in Misamis Oriental got one GPS each. Catarman in Camiguin got one also. One patrol boat and one unit GPS went to Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

Other cooperative endeavors BFAR10 have done for the region are all meant to increase fishery harvests and maintain sustainability. Among them are training technologies like modified rice-fish production and ulang-palayan projects, implementation of fish shelters, coastal resource management, processing of fishery value-added products like sardines and bottled processed food items, organization and/or reorganization of Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council and information, education campaign. – AFIS