HATCHERIES. Photo shows inside a multi-species hatchery maintained by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. BFAR is eyeing to set up multi-species hatcheries in Eastern Visayas provinces to support aquaculture in the region. (Photo courtesy of BFAR)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is eyeing to set up multi-species hatcheries in Eastern Visayas provinces to support the operation of aquaculture in the region.
At least PHP30 million to PHP45 million will be set aside to establish multi-species hatchery to be approved by Congress, Juan Albaladejo, BFAR Eastern Visayas regional director, said in an interview Friday.
The Senate is set to approve several House bills seeking the construction of hatcheries in Baybay City and Villaba town in Leyte; Sta. Maragarita in Samar; and several areas in the second congressional district of Northern Samar.
Albaladejo said the project conceptualized by Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, seeks to establish multi-species hatcheries in all legislative districts to help solve the problem of dwindling fish supply and secure the livelihood of small fishermen.
Under the proposed measures, BFAR will construct the hatcheries. Within two years, management will be transferred to the local government concerned after implementing a training and phasing-in program.
More areas in the region will be covered by the project, but it has to go through pre-assessment, feasibility studies, and check the status of lot acquisition, Albaladejo said.
“The advantage of Eastern Visayas is that we have many areas for aquaculture. It is our asset for marine development and will be a big help since we are moving out from the capture fisheries and supporting the expansion of aquaculture,” he said.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish and shellfish for human consumption or commercial purposes. It is also used to restore threatened and endangered marine species.
In a statement issued earlier, Villar said building more facilities to improve the country's fish farming capabilities is one of the long-term solutions to improve productivity.
The senator noted that many of the country’s traditional fishing grounds are getting overfished and the government needs to create breeding grounds and hatcheries to help arrest the dwindling fish stock. (PNA)
