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Monday, July 31, 2006
State university sets sights on abalone production
THE Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) awarded a P900,000 grant from the Western Mindanao Community Initiatives Project (WMCIP) to develop an R&D/training facility for abalone (Haliotis asinina) production.
Recognizing the potential of tropical abalone in the Asian market, the competence of the university's academic personnel, and its capability to utilize the pristine environs of Tawi-Tawi to conduct the research and training, MSU-TCTO chancellor Dr. Eddie M. Alih has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the WMCIP to convert its unutilized prawn hatchery to a facility for the conduct of applied research on abalone spat production.
The facility will also be used to train Fisheries students in the production of this high-value export commodity.
In return, WMCIP be afforded access to the university's research output, which will be used to improve the production capabilities of its 1,000 existing fisher folk in the province, who are engaged in fish cage production as an alternative means of livelihood.
"We are very grateful to the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program for facilitating our partnership with WMCIP and for providing us with technical assistance," stated Professor Concepcion Cinco-Toring, MSU's hatchery manager.
GEM is a Usaid-funded program that has been extensively involved in providing various forms of development assistance to conflict-affected areas throughout Mindanao, and to and former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants.
Through its Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries Efforts (Safe) Program, GEM has collaborated with the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) in developing a high-value aquaculture program.
At the core of this program is a P16-million multi-species hatchery to be constructed in Luuk Pandan, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, to produce fingerlings of high-value finfish (such as humpback grouper), sea cucumber, tropical abalone, and other commodities that are in high demand in the export market.
The assistance provide though this program by GEM and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should have a positive impact on the province's economy and provide employment opportunities for local residents by promoting high-profit, environmentally sustainable mariculture.
The MSU-TCTO facility conforms to a community economic development model that revolves around the multi-species hatchery.
Abalone is highly prized in China and other Asian markets. Frozen abalone sells for a minimum of US$14 per kilo in China while dried abalone can sell for as much US$75 per kilo.
However, the enormous quantity of abalone taken from the wild has caused the depletion of natural stocks worldwide. While the artificial spawning and culture of abalone can mitigate the impact of the exploitation of natural stocks, it is a relatively new industry and still requires substantial additional research in order improve culture methodologies.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 31, 2006 issue)
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