The Padre Burgos Mariculture Zone is a 500-hectare area encompassing the waters of 14 barangays of Sipa, Hinguiwin, Rizal, Campo, Punta, Basia, Marao, Dangalan, San Vicente, Walay, Cabayao Sur, Kinagunan Ibaba, Tulay Buhangin and Lipata.

An ordinance declaring these areas as a mariculture zone has just been approved by the municipal council this month.

Top national and local officials headed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Padre Burgos Mayor Dominador T. Villena Jr., Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez, and BFAR Eastern Visayas Director Gil A. Adora are expected to grace the launching rites at barangay Campo.

This first mariculture zone in Calabarzon is being established with the close cooperation of BFAR Eastern Visayas, which has already 12 mariculture zones, through Director Adora who had sent his mariculture experts from Eastern Visayas to give guidance on the establishment of the Quezon mariculture zone, including five skilled divers and mariculturists from the Basey Mariculture Zone.

Of the 500 hectares of the Padre Burgos Mariculture Zone, an area will be devoted for fish cage farming, seaweeds farming, aquasilviculture (mud crab farming), sea ranching, pearl oyster culture, "tahong" and "talaba" culture, among others.

Mayor Villena and Director Macas are upbeat on the project, the mariculture zone being just four hours drive away from the biggest market in the country, Metro Manila. This makes input supplies like feeds far more cheaper.