Sustainable aquaculture pushed

ALABEL, Sarangani – Because of finite marine resources and worldwide recognition of the need for sustainable fishing practices, experts forecast that in five years, 50 percent of fish and fish products will come from aquaculture.

Aquacultue production is growing by an average of 10 percent annually, from 1.1 million metric tons, valued at P32.1 billion in 2000 to 1.34 million metric tons valued at P35.4 billion in 2002. Milkfish, tilapia, and shrimps/prawns are among the major products but research and development is being undertaken to expand the varieties capable of meeting global demand.

The bright prospect for the aquaculture industry is encouraging Mindanao producers to map out strategies that will make the sector competitive through sustainable and environmentally-sound fishing practices.

"One way to make our tilapia and milkfish more competitive is to employ sound feeding strategy," Wilfredo Yap of Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), told delegates to the recent 2nd Aquaculture Exposition in Alabel, Sarangani Province.

Endowed with rich marine resources, Mindanao ranked as the country’s leading aquaculture producer with a 44 percent share of the total national output last year. Sarangani alone has 150 small and large companies engaged in aquaculture with an investment of around P1 billion. Leading firms include the Alsons Aquaculture Corp., San Andres Aquaculture Corp., and RD Farms.

These enterprises produce an average of 10,000 metric tons annually of bangus, sergeant fish, pompano, trevally, sea bass, shrimps and other high-value fish. The sector employs around 2,000 fisherfolk and workers in the province.

"We want to bring sustainable aquaculture close to the people, make it a catalyst for development not only here in the province but for the rest of the country," said Miguel Dominguez, president of the Chamber of Aquaculture and Ancillary Industries of Sarangani Inc. (CHAINS) which organized the gathering.

The two-day event was co-organized by the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc., Departments of Agriculture and Trade and Industry Region 12, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 12 and provincial government with support from the USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

The event also featured appropriate production technologies, investment opportunities, new products, and initiatives of non-government sector towards sustainable aquaculture.