RP aquaculture sector benefits from BFAR-SEAFDEC program

The country’s aquaculture sector continues to benefit considerably from a program jointly being implemented by a government agency and a Southeast Asian center.

Called Joint Mission for Accelerated Nationwide Technology Transfer Program (JMANTTP), the undertaking was launched in January 1999 by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the government-hosted Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC AQD) based in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

The program was conceived to make available technologies developed at SEAFDEC AQD to its host country, the Philippines.

"This would not have been possible without the close working relationship with BFAR," said Dr. Rolando R. Platon, SEAFDEC AQD chief, in a progress report on the JMANTTP’s first two years of implementation.

Specifically, the JMANTTP aimed to promote sustainable aquaculture technologies that are economically viable, environment-friendly, and socially equitable to increase fish production, export revenues, employment, and livelihood options for the fisherfolk; to facilitate technology transfer by demonstrating sustainable technologies in strategic areas nationwide to serve as skill-learning centers for fishfarmers, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs, and other end-users; and to implement the "Oplan Sagip Sugpo" for rehabilitating the country’s moribund shrimp industry.

Initially covering shrimp farming, the program subsequently diversified to milkfish, grouper (lapu-lapu), seabass (apahap), tilapia, and mudcrab.

"This collaborative effort with SEAFDEC AQD to rehabilitate the prawn industry is another milestone for BFAR," said Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. "With successful results obtained in the two years that we have been implementing this project, I can confidently recommend the use of the environment-friendly schemes in prawn farming to the private sector."

The program’s co-directors are Dan Baliao of SEAFDEC AQD and Nelson Lopez of BFAR.

JMANTTP started its operation on environment-friendly schemes in shrimp farming at SEAFDEC AQD’s Dumangas Brackishwater Station (DBS) in Dumangas, Iloilo.

The first test run in 2000 using environment-friendly schemes yielded 4,465 kilograms from an 8,600-square-meter pond and 5,370 kg from another pond with the same area.

The same protocol subsequently was demonstrated in BFAR’s demonstration and training centers (DTC) in Batangas, Lanao del Norte, and Bohol.

"The encouraging results of the test runs in its four sites in Year 2000 allowed the team to fine-tune the technology for its succeeding runs in Year 2001," BFAR and SEAFDEC AQD jointly reported.

Encouraging results were also realized in test runs done in 2001 at the SEAFDEC AQD Dumangas Brackishwater Station; at Botong, Taal, Batangas; Bentig, Calape, Bohol; and Lala, Lanao del Norte.

Last August, a mariculture livelihood project was launched at the SEAFDEC AQD-Igang Marine Substation in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. Serving primarily as a demonstration and training facility, the project was set up to serve as a model in the promotion of sustainable mariculture technology as livelihood projects for coastal communities.

A mariculture park is an area in marine waters designated for mariculture (growing of marine species) and provided with appropriate infrastructure to make it convenient to install and operate. Local fishers, the priority participants, are required to attend a skills development session on fish cage culture to ensure a successful technology transfer.

A mariculture park has been subsequently set up off Samal Island (Davao City). The 200-hectare Samal Island project is projected to generate 1,000 full-time jobs and has the potential to produce 72 tons of milkfish a year valued at P3.56 billion.

A mariculture park is being replicated in Zambales where a multisectoral planning workshop had been held. Other coastal areas have also expressed their interest in setting up mariculture parks.

Other notable activities undertaken by BFAR and SEAFDEC AQD under JMANTTP during the past two years were the holding of two Fisheries Technology Caravans (FTC) to bring fisheries technologies to the grass-roots.

The Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD) supported the project by sending experts as lecturers and trainers.

The first five-week FTC took off from the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City on Sept. 19, 2000, proceeded to Naga City (Bicol), then went on a grueling journey through Tacloban City, Butuan City, Naawan (Misamis Oriental), Iligan City, Dipolog City (Zamboanga del Norte), and finally ending in Nasugbu, Batangas.

The lecture-demonstrations covered fish production enhancement, breeding, processing, and preparation of value-added products.

The second fisheries caravan began in Malolos (Bulacan) on April 23, 2001, proceeded to La Trinidad (Benguet), Vigan (Ilocos Sur), Tuguegarao City (Cagayan), and culminated in Alaminos (Pangasinan). The second FTC, which covered the culture of freshwater species, benefited mostly fishers and teachers and students of fishery schools and local government officials.

Skills development sessions on the transfer and adoption of environment-friendly aquaculture technologies, primarily on shrimp culture, were also conducted in Tagaytay City (covering Southern Luzon), Iloilo City (covering the Panay Island provinces), Ozamiz City (North Mindanao), and Tagbilaran City in Bohol (Central Visayas).

For Year 2002, the environment-friendly features of crop rotation will be demonstrated in the BFAR demonstration and training centers in Lanao del Norte, Batangas, and Bohol.

Other technologies such as grouper culture in pond; pen culture of mudcrab in mangroves; cage culture of milkfish, grouper, and other economically viable finfishes; and modular method of milkfish culture will also be demonstrated.