DINAGAT ISLAND – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here launched the 4th Mariculture Zone in the Caraga Region located on Unib Island (Lalaking Bukid), Dinagat Islands Province the other day.

Dubbed “Dinagat Islands Modified Mariculture Zone,” the project is a 341.21-hectare mariculture area on the coastal waters of Barangay Coring in Basilisa, Dinagat Islands.

BFAR Assistant Regional Director Nerio G. Casil said this mariculture park is a livelihood enhancement project for the fisherfolk in the municipality, implemented with the assistance of the provincial government of Dinagat Islands and the local government unit (LGU) of Basilisa.

Dr. Nelson A. Lopez, chief of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of BFAR central office, Dinagat Gov. Jade B. Ecleo and Vice Gov. Elvis A. de la Merced, Basilisa Vice Mayor Cesar Borja, and Casil, in behalf of BFAR Regional Director Alauya R. Olama, spearheaded in the launching activities.

Casil said the project is part of a bigger program being pursued by BFAR to push for more production from “aquaculture” and at the same time generate more job opportunities, to bring more income and more food for the people in the coastal communities.

Mariculture is one of BFAR’s undertakings to realize hunger mitigation and job generation agenda of President Arroyo, to alleviate poverty in the countryside, he added.

Dominador G. Maputol, regional mariculture coordinator here, said one of the most important benefits of “aquaculture” is to ease the pressure from our marine waters, particularly from catch-fishing because it has already depleted food resources due to over-fishing, aside from man’s abuses to the environment and the impacts of climate change.