Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Aquaculture output in Davao up by 38% By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has reported that aquaculture production in Davao Region posted a remarkable increase of 38 percent last year as compared to the figure recorded in the preceding year.
"We gave enough focus on aquaculture fisheries last year. Its production in 2007 is 4,930 metric tons higher than the production in 2006," said Evelyn Basco, officer-in-charge of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) of BFAR-Southern Mindanao.
In 2006, aquaculture production was pegged at 13,119 metric tons compared to the 18,049 metric tons in 2007.
Basco said not only aquaculture, but also both commercial and municipal fisheries have increased its production by 16 percent and 13 percent or a 2,392 metric tons and 4,068 metric tons difference, respectively as compared to the production recorded in 2006.
The increase, Basco said, is attributed to the interventions implemented by BFAR-Southern Mindanao in the Davao Region last year.
These interventions were the establishment of freshwater cages and fish pens; establishment of seaweed nurseries; installation of additional cages in the mariculture parks; increased tilapia, bangus and hito dispersal; establishment of deep sea and shallow water payao; and the provision of fishing gears to municipal fisherfolks.
The dispersal of tilapia fingerlings in communal bodies of water also contributed to the production growth.
Davao del Sur posted a significant increase in aquaculture production last year with 12,847 metric tons. The figure is 70 percent higher than the 2006 figure, which is only 7,565 metric tons.
The province also topped in commercial and municipal fisheries production for the year with 6,225 metric tons and 15,287 metric tons, respectively.
