Seaweeds farming eyed as alternative livelihood to stop illegal fishing

TAGBILARAN CITY ,Philippines  – Seaweeds farming has been planned as an alternative livelihood for fishermen in the coastal towns of Bohol to stop illegal fishing and the destruction of the coral reefs and the marine ecosystem within the Danajon Double Barrier Reef.

Representative Erico Aumentado (2nd district, Bohol) bared this to The FREEMAN after his talks on the plan with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 7 director Andres Bojos and Agriculture-Region 7 executive director Angel Fernandez in Cebu City before the Holy Week.

Seaweeds farming for carrageenan production was among the possible alternative livelihoods for the fishermen being explored in the meeting.

Aumentado told Bojos and Fernandez that he offered the alternative livelihoods to the islanders after being informed of illegal fishing in the seawaters committed by the native fishermen and those from Leyte, Southern Leyte and Cebu provinces.

There were reports also on poaching of coral reefs from the Bohol seawaters and selling these to buyers in Lapu-Lapu City, said the congressman.

Aumentado said he intended to pilot seaweeds farming in the islands of Sag, Talibon and Tintinan all in Ubay town with an initial outlay of P50,000 for each barangay to be taken from his 2012 Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Bojos and Aumentado agreed that the latter’s PDAF would be used to buy the materials and other requirements for seaweeds farming for the fishermen of Sag and Tintinan for the pilot project this year.

For 2013, BFAR-7 will set aside P5 million while Aumentado will give P2.5 million from his pork barrel funds for the project.