STUDENTS of Rhode Island University in the United States praised Philippine aquaculture practices when they came to Pangasinan for a 20-day study tour.

Dr. Michael Rice, a professor in the University of Rhode Island, brought six of his sophomore and junior students studying Fisheries and Aquaculture and Marine Biology, from Jan. 1 to Jan. 20 in Pangasinan.

The students visited the rivers in Dagupan City, the fish cages in Sual, the mangrove areas in Alaminos City and the giant clam nursery and the clam hatchery in Bolinao town.

They also experienced demonstration and hands-on in sex determination/canulation of milkfish breeders and feed preparation/enrichment at the Philippine Bangus Center as well as studied its rooftop urban aquaculture/permaculture demo in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here.

The students also experienced seining milkfish broodstock from a maturation pond in BFAR Dagupan. “They’re gaining experience forms of aquaculture definitely not practiced in Rhode Island,” Rice said.

It was the second time Rice brought his students to learn from Pangasinan’s experience, Philippines being one of the leading countries in terms of aquaculture, production and research.

Rice had worked in the BFAR here in 1981 as a peace corps volunteer and had authored a paper with Westremundo Rosario, the father of the incumbent BFAR Dagupan center chief, Dr. Westly Rosario, about oysters and oyster farming and exporting oysters. He spent more years working in different capacities related to aquaculture in the country.

He said he wanted his students to have the same experience that he had in the Philippines.

Benton Croop, a fisheries and aquaculture student, said the fisheries technology at the BFAR “is very impressive.” He admired the knowledge of the people, especially those engaged in aquaculture and know their trade.

“The projects that they do here are increasingly modern and definitely they make the most of the facilities that they have,” he said, citing the p. vannamei shrimp culture and bio security measures.

Ali Fray, a junior Marine Biology student, said she came here with almost zero background on fisheries, “so it’s just really interesting to see the whole process.”

She said she was impressed “at how self-sustaining it is”.

She also lauded the environmental management adding that she didn’t expect so much awareness from the people.

Claire Hudson, who’s working on his Masters’ Degree in Environmental Management, said it was her first time to experience aquaculture in another country.

She had done fisheries study in Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore but she said she loves her studies of aquaculture in a community that really practices it. (Tita Roces)

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