CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Senator Cynthia Villar has expressed concern over the declining fish stocks in the country.
Villar, Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairman Senator Cynthia Villar, aired her concern during during the graduation of some 35 fishermen from four regions in North Philippines, who completed a seminar on Tilapia Culture for Small-Scale Fish Farmers.
The senator said the fish stocks are likely to fall as oceans in the Philippines continue to face challenges such as wide-scale illegal fishing and plastic pollution.
Due to this, Villar vowed to continue to promote inland aquaculture through the conduct of trainings that introduce new strategies and modern technology to help boost the harvests of fish farmers and increase their income.
“Seriously consider what you have learned from this training and share these learnings to other fish farmers in your community because aquaculture is the future of our country. It will help feed us all,” she said.
The 3-day training for fishermen was sponsored by the Villar SIPAG Foundation in partnership with the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), the National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region III.
The graduates, which came from regions 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera Administrative Region, received lectures on tilapia production, hatchery and grow-out management, good aquaculture practices, feeds and feed management.
Each graduate also received 1,000 tilapia fingerlings from NFFTC, while NFRDI gave away feeds and pelletizers to kick-off their business.
Also present during the event was Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona, accompanied by NFRDI Interim Executive Director Dr. Lilian Garcia, BFAR3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz, NFFTC Chief Ma. Jodecel Danting and Philippine Carabao Center Executive Director Arnel del Barrio.