ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- Invigorating the fishery sector through aquaculture is one of the major thrusts of the current administration to attain food security.
This was highlighted in a press briefing conducted in line with the 45th Program Committee Meeting of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) held here, Dec. 5.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) OIC- director Demosthenes R. Escoto said that one of the major collaborations with SEAFDEC currently is the establishment of 54 legislated hatcheries among strategic areas althroughout the country which is seen to propel sufficiency to fish fry and promote substantial contribution of aquaculture sector to food security.
Per record of BFAR, the aquaculture sector’s contribution to the food security level in the country is now at 52 percent.
Escoto also emphasized that the SEAFDEC is being consulted by the government in the conduct of feasibility studies, training for hatchery operations, and further research and development regarding the industry.
Meanwhile, SEAFDEC chief of Aquaculture Department (AQD) Dan D. Baliao said that the center gives priority to the needs of the industry, which includes the establishment of Fry Sufficiency Program that started two
years ago.
Baliao said the Fry Sufficiency Program aims to deter too much importation of the country from Indonesia which is the main source of fry.
Likewise, founding of feed mills is also one of the steps being undertaken by the center to augment the need for cost-efficient feed.
He noted that 60 percent of the production cost often goes to feed alone and the need to come up with the formulation of feed, that will cost lower than the commercial feed but is efficient, is a must.
In 2023, SEAFDEC is eyeing to finish the establishment of these feed mills through the government’s support and will continue to establish more hatcheries on its own. (JBG/AGP/PIA6)
