Tags: Agribusiness, Aquaculture
By Alexander Villafania
MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is looking to expand the number of mariculture parks in an effort to boost food fish production in the Philippines.
There are currently 51 mariculture parks in the Philippines handled by the BFAR, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Mariculture parks differ from traditional fish farming as these entail cultivating fish for food in large enclosures in the open sea.
While the technology has been used for many years, it was only in the last decade that the Philippines has fully adopted mariculture technologies.
During a presentation at the National Academy of the Science and Technology (NAST) on aquaculture, BFAR Assistant Director Gil Adora said at least another 11 mariculture parks are to be launched, with a total area of 876.45 hectares.
Currently, the 51 mariculture farms handled by the BFAR have a combined area of 49,553 hectares. Between 2002 and 2010, these BFAR mariculture parks have produced 55,000 metric tons of fish, with a cumulative value of P4.5 billion.
Despite the huge size of mariculture, Adora said this still accounts for just 22 percent of the overall food fish production in the Philippines.
In fact, in 2009, the overall aquaculture industry in the Philippines produced 5 million metric tons.
“There is huge investment potential for mariculture in the Philippines and so much room to grow. What we intend is to maximize production of mariculture farms so that entrepreneurs and cooperatives operating these mariculture parks are able regain their investments,” Adora said.
Adora added that mariculture technology in the Philippines has been improving due in part to large scale adoption of fishing and environmental management techniques. He said BFAR is also focusing on developing new mariculture-related technologies, such as better mooring systems against strong wind and wave actions, and cage design standardization.
“We’re continuously training fisherfolk involved in mariculture so that they are better skilled in managing these mariculture facilities,” Adora said.
Advertising Agribusiness Agriculture Airline Industry Aquaculture Automobiles Banking Car Accessories consumer elec Consumer Electronics Consumer Goods and Concerns Cooperatives Cottage Industries Death Entrepreneurship Filipinos Abroad Food Establishments Groceries and Shopping Centers Handicraft Handicrafts hardware Hardware Solutions Horticulture Internet Livelihood Programs Malls Mass Media and Communications Mobile Phone Industry OFWs Outsourcing Real Estate Software Solutions technology Technology Industry teleco Telecommunications Tourism Transportation Vermiculture Wholesale and Retail
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
