Aquaculture practitioners set symposium in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — About 100 representatives from various sectors earning their living from marine products as well as dock and river systems are expected to attend the Aquaculture Practitioners Symposium on Sept. 28-29 organized by the city government.

The study-gathering aims to provide a clear direction for a sustainable clean and productive river system as part of Mayor Benjamin Lim’s program for the next three years.

Emma Molina, city agriculturist tasked to organize the symposium, said the city seeks to bring about a more viable river condition for the long- term livelihood of all stakeholders and not just for a few capitalists and environment polluters. 

Lim had told the local media that he intends to call for a one-year moratorium on all existing big business activity in the city’s rivers particularly fishpen constructions in order to give the rivers a “long overdue breathing spell.”

Among the topics to be discussed are: alternative options for aquaculture like fish caging, sustainable aquaculture practices (feeds and feeding, water quality management), high value fish culture, available funding windows and programs and rationalizing the city’s aquaculture sector for revenue generation and sustainable livelihood development.

Molina said the symposium will be geared towards crafting and developing a definite Bangus Industry Roadmap and ultimately ensuring an agreement among the stakeholders to do their share and contribute their efforts towards attaining set goals.

Among the stakeholders  invited to the symposium are  fish vendors, fishpond operators, deboners /processors ( smoking/drying) marginal fisherfolk operating the so-called skylabs, surewin, sky blue, batikwas and small fishermen (sigay and tabal), fishpond caretakers and financiers, feed dealers, consignacion operators, ice dealers, boatmen , bangus sorters, fish baggage boys, fry/fingerlings traders, among others.

Also invited to participate from the financing institutions are the Land Bank, Development Bank, Philippine Crop Insurance, Quedancor, Cooperative Development Authority, and private bankers. State colleges and universities including Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Education are also expected to come and lend their knowledge and expertise in research and study-models on aquaculture to the discussions.