P10-M agreement sealed for planning of 15 hatcheries

By Development Communication Section

To step-up fisheries production in the country, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) tapped the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in a P10 million project to conduct surveys and prepare development plans for the establishment of 15 multi-species fish hatcheries in 7 provinces around the Philippines.

Under an agreement signed in 8 February by BFAR national director Eduardo Gongona and SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department chief Dan Baliao, SEAFDEC will assess pre-identified project sites, recommend hatchery technologies to be deployed, outline production cycles, produce site development plans as well as detailed blueprints for facility design.

The hatcheries to be built in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Albay, Cebu, Lanao del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Quezon and Zamboanga del Norte, are seen to shore up the supply of fingerlings for fish farmers.

Site surveys to be conducted by SEAFDEC/AQD will include the conduct of water and soil analyses and stakeholder interviews. Environmental parameters in the respective areas will be considered as well as the current fingerling requirements and the potential market for other aquaculture commodities.

While BFAR is mandated to supervise the establishment of these legislated multi-species hatcheries before turning them over to the local government after a training and phasing-in program, the agreement recognized the “necessity to pool resources, activities and technical expertise” of BFAR and SEAFDEC/AQD to “attain the vision of developing sustainable aquaculture and revitalize the fishery and aquatic resources in the country.”

The surveys and project planning are scheduled to be completed this year.