DA to establish 195-ha mariculture park

The establishment of a 195-hectare mariculture park in Misamis Oriental, the first in Northern Mindanao, is expected to provide jobs to fisher folk in the area. Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras, who endorsed the establishment of the mariculture zone in the town of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental, said the sea cages in the park could yield a return on investment (ROI) of up to 38 percent from the culture of bangus and other aquatic animals and plants. Paras said that investors could earn a minimum of P100,000 from every sea cage.

The sea cages would allow the poly-culture of bangus and siganid or kitang. Other high value species could also be grown such as lapu-lapu, pompano, abalone, sea cucumber and seaweeds.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Misamis Oriental local government established the mooring system that can accommodate 20 to 24 units of fish cages.

The park began operations early this year with two units of 10 x 10 x 4-meter cages. One cage was a techno-demo farm and the other was  operated by a private investor.

The Balingasag mariculture park has been divided into zones for fish cages, sea ranching and seaweed farming.

“On top of creating more jobs and raising incomes for farmers and fisher folk, the mariculture park will also ensure the continuous supply of fish for the province while at the same time eases too much pressure on the sea from capture fisheries,” Paras said.

The mariculture park has generated so much public interest that at a recent investment forum organized by the DA and the local government, more than 160 potential investors, dealers and commercial fish boat and fish pond operators attended.

During the first bangus harvest festival in the area, fresh bangus were sold at P85 per kilo, way below its average price of more than P100 a kilo in Metro Manila’s wet markets.

According to Paras, bangus grown in fish cages taste better and command higher prices among retailers than those raised in ponds.

The establishment of mariculture parks in coastal areas across the country forms part of the DA’s continuing efforts to further energize the fisheries subsector, the biggest gainer and growth driver of Philippine agriculture in 2006.

BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. projects that the 25 existing mariculture parks will increase to 41 by the end of this year.