LUNA, Apayao – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on January 17 conveyed that the proposed establishment of fish hatcheries in the municipalities of Calanasan and Flora has been approved by the BFAR Central Office and that they are expected to be completed and fully operational this year.
The fish hatcheries shall cultivate and breed a large number of fish and rear fingerlings to supply various fish farms in the province.
In her courtesy visit to Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr., BFAR Regional Director Lilibeth L. Signey said the two tilapia hatcheries will ultimately increase local fish production in the province as they address fingerlings insufficiency. She added that fisherfolk and aquaculture enthusiasts will now be able to avail of quality tilapia fingerlings produced within the locality.
This fishery project amounting to PhP2.5M was part of the regional proposal submitted to BFAR central office and was approved last December 2023. Signey, moreover, expressed that the operation of these hatcheries has significant effects and that it include the prolonged mortality of the fingerlings, accessible aquaculture stocks, and maximised potential use of water resources.
Recognizing the bureau’s initiatives for fishery development, Gov. Bulut, meantime, suggested the necessity to involve local governments for the sustainable operations of the projects.
“I strongly suggest that for the establishment of fish hatchery, we solicit commitment from LGUs to have counterparts for the sustainability of the technology in the long run, such as manpower to oversee its operation,” the governor stated.
Willingly, the Flora and Calanasan municipal governments affirmed provision of their counterpart such as a piece of lot, construction equipment, water-system and drainage canals for the hatchery sites.
Relative to these fishery efforts of BFAR, the aquaculture parks floating cages established in Bacut Lake in Santa Marcela, and Kapayanan Dam in Flora will soon operate after their ceremonial launching on the last week of January.
The BFAR says this additional project costs about PhP1.635 Million. By J. Dela Torre