DA-BFAR launches P237.5-M mangrove, aquasilvi, fish hatchery program

The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) recently launched a P237.5-million program to develop new mangrove areas, establish ‘aquasilvi’ or mangrove fish farms, and put up multi-species hatcheries in coastal communities.

The program was launched on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala by BFAR director Atty. Asis G. Perez in simple ceremonies at the National Brackishwater Aquaculture Technology Center, in Pagbilao, Quezon, October 27, 2011.

Director Asis said it is a realization of a community-based initiative that Secretary Alcala has envisioned since he assumed office in July 2010. It is also part of President Aquino’s pump-priming initiative to increase municipal fish production and at the same time provide fishermen and their families sustainable source of livelihood and income.

“What is significant about this program is that government money will directly benefit fishermen and their families, create more job opportunities, and importantly result to improving and protecting our aquatic resources,” Perez said

The program involves three major components, namely: planting of 11 million propagules to 3,667 hectares of new mangrove areas, worth P88 million (M); establishment of 1,000 aquasilvi techno-demo farms (P74.4M); and establishment of multi-species hatcheries in 62 municipalities (P68.2M). The remaining P6.9M will be used for project management and monitoring.

Perez said under the mangrove development component, fisherfolk will be tapped as volunteers. The DA-BFAR will buy propagules from fishers’ groups at P2 each, pay fishermen P1.50 for each propagule planted, and another P2.50 when the propagule has survived and developed.

Aquasilvi, or raising fish in mangrove areas, is an environment-friendly and sustainable approach to increasing fish production without the need to cut down mangrove trees, as when constructing fishponds, Perez said.

Under the DA-BFAR aquasilvi program, he said participating fishermen will plant mangrove trees, and will be trained on how to properly raise and produce high-value species such as lapu-lapu (grouper) in tandem with alimango (mudcrabs) and tilapia. Feed requirement will be minimal as tilapia will serve as the grouper’s food.

Perez said the DA-BFAR targets to plant 100 million mangrove propagules in the next three years, particularly abandoned, underutilized and unproductive fishponds as well as suitable coastal areas nationwide. New mangroves will then serve as potential aquasilvi fish farms for marginal fisherfolk and their families.

The DA-BFAR will also involve State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) that offer fishery courses as partners, Perez said. Funds will be downloaded to SUCs through a memorandum of agreement that will be forged between the SUC and the DA-BFAR.

A multi-species hatchery, worth P1.2M each, will also be established in each SUC. The facility will produce fingerlings that will be distributed to aquasilvi farmers, and serve as a hands-on training venue for breeding fish and other aquatic organisms. Moreover, excess fingerlings will be dispersed in communal waters for stock enhancement.

To ensure the success of the program, it will be managed jointly by the DA-BFAR regional office, concerned SUC and the host local government.

Perez said mangrove reforestation is aimed at rehabilitating what is left of the country’s mangrove forest cover that had significantly shrunk by more than 80 percent from its pristine state of half a billion hectares in the early 1900s.

“The more mangrove areas we rehabilitate and develop, the more fish and aquatic species we would nurture and produce, as mangroves serve as their spawning and nursery grounds,” said Perez.

Mangroves also serve as a first line of defense against typhoon surges and tsunamis. They are also good agri-tourism destinations.

Further, mangroves prevent soil erosion and ‘sequester’ or remove carbon dioxide and other forms of carbon from the atmosphere to mitigate or global warming.

However, Perez said “all our efforts will be futile if we could not curb all forms of destructive fishing that destroy aquatic life and its habitat.”

Last June 2011, barely a week from assuming his post as BFAR director, Perez led an inter-agency team that apprehended the biggest smuggler of black corals and precious seashells in the country. BFAR Director Atty. Asis Perez, DA