Rosario says oyster a profitable industry
DR. WESTLY Rosario, the interim executive director of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), believes the country’s oyster production has a huge potential as a major aquaculture industry.
In a paper presented to the recent 3rd International Oyster Symposium: Recent Advances, Potentials, Challenges and Problems in Oyster Industry in Taipei, Rosario cited oyster as one of the most important fisheries commodities in the Philippines.
“The (oyster) industry has significant contribution to the livelihood of marginal coastal fisherfolk and supplies cheap but high quality protein in the country for many decades, he said.
There are 22 provinces producing oysters all over the country, according to Rosario, with a total production of 20,508.05 metric tons (MT) in 2007 valued at close to P106 million.
The top oyster producing provinces are Capiz, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, based on data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
In the same paper, Rosario noted the current problems and limitations of the industry, including pollution and poor sanitary quality.
“Much can be done to improve the production quantity and quality of oysters in the country,” Rosario said.
Among the short and medium term recommendations he presented are more research work for oyster production, undertaking a new survey on potential shellfish growing areas, and increased technical assistance to farmers to improve culture practices and expand culture area coverage.#
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