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Sunday, December 18, 2005
De Venecia sees new shrimp variety boosting aquaculture
HOUSE Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr., has lauded the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) for scoring what he called a historic breakthrough in the government's campaign to bring more food on the dining table through its research on white shrimp called Penaeus vannamei.
Speaking during the formal launching of the nationwide accreditation program for the propagation of Penaeus vannamei at the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) here, de Venecia said research on this kind of shrimp could bring about increased production of shrimps throughout the country.
The launching program coincided with a seminar-workshop on Penaeus vannamei culture with experts on aquaculture from the Southeast Asia Fisheries-Development Center (Seafdec) and NIFTDC as resources speakers.
The activity was attended by shrimp and prawn raisers from Pangasinan, Zambales, Batangas and various parts of the country.
"We've done a lot of focus and priorities on this project on vannmei shrimp so aquaculture businessmen will have a choice," de Venecia said, reminding that the indigenous black tiger prawn is still around and is still widely used by aquaculturists.
De Venecia supported the ongoing research on Penaues vannamei by the Bfar, using an initial of 86 breeders imported by the country from Hawaii sometime in August this year.
He recalled that as an entrepreneur 30 years ago, he was among those who brought the black tiger prawns to Pangasinan. There were many entrepreneurs who succeeded in their ventures but there were others who also failed because of the widespread diseases suffered by the specie.
Between the tiger prawns and the vannamei, the latter could be a better help in the campaign to ensure food sufficiency in the country because it can be raised in sea, fresh and brackish water, de Venecia said.
Tiger prawns thrive only in brackish water.
Dr. Wilfredo Yap of Seafdec earlier said at present the shrimp industry in the Philippines is down compared to other shrimp-producing countries in Asia, South America and other parts of the world, thus the need for disease-free Penaeus vannamei.
De Venecia said China, and Thailand amassed great export volumes in the white shrimp industry, thus he is supporting the great strides of scientists of Bfar to increase shrimp production in the Philippines for local consumption and export.
De Venecia, along with Bfar Director Malcolm Sarmiento and NIFTDC chief Westly Rosario distributed certificates of accreditation to 12 entrepreneurs all over the country who will go into initial propagation and development of the Penaeus vannamei specie.
He stressed that he is pushing for the vannamei because the latter can be raised in the same pond with bangus and tilapia, which are widely raised in almost all parts of the country. (Pangasinan Star/Sunnex)
(December 14, 2005 issue)
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