ZAMBOANGA CITY — Aquaculture and mariculture can strike a balance between need to produce more food from the sea to feed an ever-growing population and the imperative to preserve and conserve what is left of the country’s marine resources.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento made this statement when he delivered his message at the launching yesterday of the 200-hectare "Zamboanga City Mariculture Zone."
The launching of this third mariculture zone in Western Mindanao was one of the activities that marked the celebration of the 71st Charter Day of this city.
Director Sarmiento, BFAR National Assistant Director for Technical Services Gil A. Adora, BFAR Region 9 Director Virgilio A. Alforque, Zamboanga City Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, and Zamboanga City ABC president Abdurham Nuno Al Haj led government officials, fisherfolk and prospective investors in launching the mariculture zone in the coastal Barangay of Taluksangay.
Also present was Region 9 Agriculture Executive Director Oscar O. Parawan, who represented Secretary Arthur Yap.
The event was highlighted by the launching program, ceremonial stocking of the zone with bangus (milkfish) and grouper (lapu- lapu) fingerlings of two demo-fish cages, distribution of saline tilapia fingerlings to fishpond operators, and distribution of seaweed seedlings and fishing gear to fisherfolk.
Sarmiento said that fish cage farming in mariculture zone is a technology that is economically viable and environment- friendly because one doesn’t have to cut mangroves in order to culture the fish.
Compared to fishpond that now costs more than P1 million to develop a one-hectare area, a 10x10x5-meter fish cage costs much less to fabricate and its yield in one cropping is equivalent to two hectares of fishpond.
"There is no way we can fail if all cooperate, especially the private sector," Sarmiento said.
Assistant National Director Adora, baring his overview of the project, discussed extensively the salient features of a mariculture-zone operation. He cited the objectives, components, and organization of the mariculture zone.
The objective, Adora said, is to accelerate the effort to tap the potentials of the area, develop the skills of fisherfolk, and generate a favorable investment climate for ancillary industries. (JCG)
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