3-month closed season in Davao Gulf set

The three-month closed season for the Davao Gulf will resume beginning June to allow tuna and other fish species to spawn.

A Joint Administrative Order by the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior and Local Government mandated the implementation from June 1 to August 31 of the closed season in the Davao Gulf.

“The closed season for commercial fishing boats aimed to conserve marine resources, to secure the spawning period of pelagic fishes in the gulf and improve the country’s compliance with the European Commission’s regulations specifically on unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing,’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Davao Region Director Fatma Idris said.

She said the Davao Gulf is an ideal and potential spawning and breeding ground for tuna and tuna-like species. Of the 49 municipalities in the region, 30 are categorized as coastal.

Idris said study confirms that tuna spawns inside Davao Gulf where most of them can be found near the mouth of the gulf. Thus, she added, special attention and strict enforcement s should be given near the mouth and eastern portion of the gulf where high concentrations of tuna was found.

The government's campaign against IUUF is one of the measures being implemented to remove the country's yellow card tag given by the European Union (EU).

Perez said unless the country shapes up and complies with the other conditions set by EU then it may be banned from exporting its fish resources in one if its main markets. The Philippines has exported P9.4 billion of fish products to the EU in 2014.

Under the terms of the Closed Season, fishermen or fishing companies will not be allowed to catch pelagic fishes using ringnet and bagnet. The ban also applies to small-scale to large scale commercial fishing with vessels from 3.1 gross tons (GT) to more than 150 GT. (lovely carillo)

Fisherfolk affected by El Nino gets to get free fingerling from BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Davao Region is ready to provide fingerlings to fisherfolk affected by the El Nino phenomenon.

"BFAR can readily provide assistance to fisherfolk in terms of fingerlings dispersal," BFAR Davao Region Director Fatma Idris said. However, she added, the beneficiaries should prepare their fishponds because fingerling dispersal would be wasted if the ponds have dried up.

There must also be a report from the city government that the fisherfolk are really victims of the El Nino for freshwater areas.

City Agriculturist Rocelio Tabay has reported that the El Nino has resulted to production losses in the fishery sector involving 304,985 Metric Tons (MT) specifically 11,185 MT of tilapia and 293,800 MT of hito.

The damage to the fishery sector due to the dry season is estimated to cost P33,324,650. A total of 927 fisherfolk have been affected as their ponds are already in the harvestable stage.

Idris said there must be a declaration of a state of calamity since most of the barangays have been affected.

The City Council failed to make the declaration due to lack of quorum with only 14 councilors present during last week's session. Regular session will resume on May 24 since the session hall is still being used for the counting of votes.

Councilor Bernard Al-ag however said the declaration of a state of calamity can be made through an emergency session called for such reason.

BFAR allocates P42M for 15 CFLCs in Davao Region in 2016.

MATI CITY– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has allocated P42M for the establishment of at least 15 Community Fish Landing Center (CFLCs) in the Davao Region for  2016.

“The CFLCs will be established in strategic areas nationwide particularly in fisherfolk communities with high poverty incidence with the goal of promoting inclusive growth in one of the country’s poorest sector,” BFAR Davao Region Director Fatma Idris said.

The CFLC, which aims to reduce post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector to 18% from the present 25% is part of BFAR’s umbrella program known as Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET). Among the three programs under TARGET are the fisherfolk registration, Boat Registration and the CFLC.

Fishermen usually bring their abundant fish catch along the shores and make use of what’s available including large stones to cut the fish before selling them to the community.This practice is however far from ideal under Republic Act 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013 which was enacted to strengthen the food safety regulatory system in the country to protect consumer health and facilitate market access of local foods and food products.

But with the establishment of the CFLC will allow the fisherfolk to bring their fish harvest in a clean facility where the fish will be kept clean and fresh.

The Center will be equipped with 10 stainless steel tables and two chest freezers to ensure that the fish harvest is properly preserved so the fisherfolk can sell them at a higher price.

The CFLC in Mati City is the first in the Davao Region. It has a construction cost of P2.85 Million. Four more CFLCs in the region are undergoing construction in Lupon, Banaybanay, Boston and Governor Generoso all in Davao Oriental but this one will be a model CFLC for all. Two CFLCs were turned over to two municipalities in Oriental Mindoro last month.

Up to 252 CFLCs all over the country have been included in last year’s budget and majority are in the construction stage. Up to 271 more Centers will be built this year and almost the same number by 2017 to achieve BFAR’s target of putting up CFLCs in strategic areas along the 928 coastal cities and municipalities across the country including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Mati CFLC opens

The opening of the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) in Barangay Mayo in Mati, Davao Oriental is expected to provide more opportunities for the fisherfolk in the area. 

“The fisherfolk will be able to bring their fish harvest in a clean facility where the fish will kept clean and fresh,” Benjamin F. S. Tabios, Jr., assistant director for administrative services of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said during the launch and blessing of the facility.

The P2.85-million CFLC is the first in the Davao Region, and four more are under construction in the municipalities of Lupon, Banaybanay, Boston, and Governor Generoso, all in Davao Oriental. 

BFAR has allocated P42 million for at least 15 CFLCs in the Davao Region in 2016. A total of 252 CFLCs nationwide were included in the government’s 2015 budget, and majority are now under construction.

For this year, 271 have been lined up, and about the same number are planned for 2017. BFAR aims to put up CFLCs near or in 928 coastal cities and municipalities across the country.

“The CFLCs will be established in strategic areas nationwide, particularly in fisherfolk communities with high poverty incidence, with the goal of promoting inclusive growth in one of the country’s poorest sectors,” BFAR Davao Region Director Fatma M. Idris said.

Idris said the facilities are seen to help bring down post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector to 18% from the present 25%, under BFAR’s umbrella program, Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET).

Aside from the CFLCs, the two other major components of TARGET are the fisherfolk registration and boat registration projects.

BFAR National Director Asis G. Perez earlier said the CFLC sites were determined using the fisherfolk database and the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture of the Department of Budget and Management, with the assistance of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Tabios said all the CFLCs will have similar costs, but there will be three basic design options, depending on the community’s requirements.

The centers are also intended as multi-purpose buildings that can be used for skills and livelihood training, or even as a tourist attraction.

“This is especially true for the CFLC in Barangay Mayo, which could be a good tourist attraction because of its ideal location just along the shore,” he said.

Erlinda D. Ali, BFAR provincial fisheries officer in Davao Oriental, said the Mayo CFLC will initially be run by the local government, but members of the community will be trained to eventually take over the management.

Mayo Barangay Chairman Noel V. Alo, for his part, said they are committed to “nurture the project” and will make use of the center to come up with other projects that will benefit the fishing community.

Balete bay red tide alert lifted

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Davao region has lifted the red tide alert covering Balete Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

BFAR Davao Region Fish Production Chief Raul Millana said water sampling earlier this month showed that shellfish from the bay turned out negative of parasitic poisoning.Thus, he said, shellfish from the bay are now safe for consumption.

Millana said the toxicity caused by an overgrowth in aquatic microorganisms called “dinoflagellates” has decreased to safe levels. The death of the microorganisms which triggered the phenomenon known as algal bloom could have resulted from the drought, he added.

However, BFAR Davao Region Director Fatma Idris said that if not addressed, the siltation which caused the overgrowth of microorganisms will continue to trigger the red tide in Balete Bay.

The result of the latest water sampling on Balete Bay was released on March 19, more than three weeks after the release of an earlier test that showed the bay was still affected by red tide. BFAR Davao Region and the local government of Mati City conducted a weekly sampling to ensure the safety of the waters.

“We have sampling stations there and the previous laboratory results showed high toxicity in Balete Bay,” Millana said.

Balete Bay was listed as safe, along with six other bays in Mindanao such as Dumaguillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay, Murdelagos in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental, and Hinatuan, Bislig, and Lianga Bays in Surigao del Sur.(lac)

Fingerlings shortage worry Mindanao fish farmers

The shortage of fingerlings, which comes as a result of erratic temperatures brought about by El Niño, has started to worry fisherfolk in Mindanao.

The Alcantara Group’s Finfish Hatcheries, Inc., which exports as well as supplies more than 50% of the country’s total requirements for bangus (milkfish) fry, has been experiencing lower production with their brood stock laying fewer eggs.

Rene Bocaya, Finfish national sales manager, said their 12,000 brood stock at the 50-hectare hatchery in Sarangani normally delivers 1.5 million bangus fry per month. In January this year, however, it was down to only 29 million, of which 13 million went to Mindanao, 10 million to the Visayas and six million to Luzon. The situation is stressing the hatchery’s business model because the bangus fry business supports other operations.

“One product that sustains us is our bread and butter, the bangus fry, so if we can produce this it can help subsidize the high value species,” he said, adding that they are hoping that they volume will improve this month with adjustments in production.

Bocaya said there is still a “big gap between demand and supply of high-value species” though he gave no details.

In Panabo City, Davao del Norte, the Regional Fisheries Training Center (RFTC) Employees Cooperative is now operating only five out of its 18 fish enclosures due to the limited fingerling supply.

The cooperative has a 46-hectare fishpond in Tagum City solely for fingerling production.

Alberto C. Lanojan, RFTC manager, said the organization is also putting on hold plans to expand the Bangus Sugba Kilaw (BSK) Restaurant, which is a good revenue earner for the cooperative.

The restaurant, which also sells bottled and processed bangus, needs up to 3.7 metric tons of bangus per month.

“We are eyeing the expansion of the BSK Restaurant in Tagum, but we are also considering if we can meet the additional demand given the situation now,” Lanojan said.  BSK Restaurant sources all of its bangus supply from RFTC’s fish cages located at the Panabo Mariculture Park.

Andrew M. Ventura, chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Regional National Mariculture Center (NMC), said the NMC too has been facing lower production.

“There is a very limited supply of bangus and high-value species fry and fingerling and garungan (juveniles that weigh 30 to 50 grams),”  Ventura said.

More than 1,500 hectares of brackish water ponds in the Davao Region have been developed to support the mariculture parks and zones with an estimated fry requirement of about 240 million.

Ventura said only about 50% or 1,380 marine fish cage livelihood projects in the region have been stocked with bangus garungan during the first two months of the year.

The five mariculture parks and eight mariculture zones in the region contribute about 60% to local food security and the fish cages cover 47% of the total employment in the mariculture industry with 1,210 fisherfolk as caretakers, based on BFAR data.

Ventura said the government aims to address the situation through the Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP) Assessment, which was launched in February this year.

“For this year the CNFIDP targets an increase in the production of milkfish (4%), tilapia (6%), shrimp (10%), seaweed (25%), shellfish (10%) and mud crab (5.4%),” he said.

The BFAR-NMC met last month with private bangus and high-value species operators and producers to discuss the fry shortage.

Ventura said they are still aiming to improve overall supply beginning this year through coordinated investments in propagation facilities, institutionalizing good aquaculture practices for key commodities, optimizing the operation of mariculture parks, and ensuring climate and disaster resilience of the aquaculture sector, among others.

Family gets support from BFAR XI, thrives on seaweed business

The family of Vilma Albarico, a fisherfolk from Punta Biao in Davao del Sur, received seaweed propaguls from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) XI in 2004 allowing them to expand our seaweed farm.

Albarico the only livelihood she and her family knew was related to the bounties of the sea. Having been raised by a family who did not only lived near the sea but who also relied on fishing for their livelihood, she has learned to embrace the waters and passed this on to her children.

"While my family fished these waters, we started seaweed farming a long time ago as an alternate livelihood to add to the family income," Albarico said in an interview. At that time, she had little capital which she used to buy seaweed propagules to start with seaweed farming.

Albarico and the other seaweed farmers in the area, consider the sea is a blessing because it allows them to engage in fishing and seaweed farming for free, for as long as they took care of the waters by keeping it clean and debris-free.

Seaweed farming for these folks means making use of a thick twine rope that can withstand the wear and tear of the water and changing weather conditions, which is then tied in the middle of the sea using a makeshift stand that can float at a depth of 15 fathoms. The seaweed propagules are then cut into a standard length depending on their target harvest period and then secured on the rope.

"Very early in the morning the whole family (including her four children) is a work day for us because once the seaweeds are set on the rope then we also need to check on them after planting," she said.

Albarico said seaweed propagules cut in the regular size of at least three inches could be harvested within 20-25 days. If there is an order we have to meet at a set date then we just cut the seaweeds longer and they will be ready for harvest in two weeks, she added.

"One line of rope could yield two to three sacks of seaweeds with up to 60 kilos per sack," she said. The seaweeds, which is commonly known in the market as "guso" sells at P7 per kilo.

She said seaweeds can thrive once planted but they are wary of thieves in the community who steal the seaweeds especially when prices in the market are high.  They also have to contend with seaweed diseases such as "ice ice" which is a condition caused by changes in the water's salinity and temperature. This disease produces a moist substances that induces whitening of the seaweeds and attracts bacteria in the water. When taken for granted, she said, this will lead to the detachment of the seaweed from the rope which means losses for the farmers.

"When our seaweed farms are attacked by the ice ice disease then this is when we need the support of government especially in terms of the seaweed propagules," she said.

Albarico is a member of the Punta Biao Fisherfolk Association consisting of 45 groups with at least five members per group. While most of them are into seaweed farming, she said there is a plan under the Department of Trade and Industry's Bottom Up Budgeting to invest P700,000 for a seaweed processing plant in the area.

"Demand for guso is always high in the market not only for food but also for industries that process the seaweeds into candies and even chips," she said. Nothing goes to waste, she added, since she dries the damaged guso which she sells at P50 per kilo.