Bangus industry back on its feet
ONE YEAR AFTER TYPHOON PEPENG
THE bangus industry in the province, among the most affected by typhoon Pepeng and the ensuing flood in October last year, has now recovered and production is on the rise.
Nestor Domenden, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 1, said bangus farm operators have already recovered their multi-million losses when ponds and pens overflowed during the calamity last year, washing away the fish stock and fingerlings.
Damage to fisheries brought about by Pepeng was estimated at more than P471 million, affecting more than 920 hectares of fishponds.
Region 1 has a daily bangus production of 200 metric tons, of which 40 percent comes from Pangasinan.
Domenden said the bangus industy’s recovery could be partly attributed to some government interventions like giving of free fingerlings to the victims.
At the same time, he said the government continues to push for production programming in the fish industry through dialogues among the operators to avoid surplus or scarcity in the market, and consequently improve the income of producer as well as help consumers through stable prices.
Speaking at the Aquaculture Practitioners Symposium in Dagupan City recently on the topic Fishkill Episodes in Pangasinan: An Aquaculture Industry Concern, he warned that, “Unless we change by putting into actions the experts’ suggestions to systematically change the unregulated practices, then fishkills would remain a major problem”.
He lamented that cage and pen operators are reluctant to give up their shortcut and hazardous methods and observe environment-friendly methods as advocated by experts.
Domenden cited the unregulated mariculture practices, blocking of water circulation/flow, obstruction of navigation by fish pens / cages set up along the river system and irresponsible use of feeds as primary as factors to led to oxygen depletion, pollutant toxins, natural toxins and fish diseases.
ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY AQUACULTURE
Meanwhile Domenden said fishkill remains a major threat to the bangus industry of Pangasinan because fish operators refuse to strictly follow environment-friendly aquaculture.
Domenden, speaking during the recent Aquaculture Practitioners Symposium in Dagupan City organized by the city government, said, “Unless we change by putting into actions the experts’ suggestions to systematically change the unregulated practices, then fishkills would remain a major problem.”
Domenden cited unregulated mariculture practices, blocking of water circulation/flow, obstruction to navigation due to fishpens/fish cages set up along the river system and irresponsible use of feeds that led to fishkill because of oxygen depletion, pollutant toxins, natural toxins and fish diseases.
DAGUPAN BANGUS
For his part, Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim advocated the adoption of environment-friendly operation of fish cages and pens to make the Dagupan bangus industry sustainable.
He urfged stakeholders to continue to raise the standards of Dagupan bangus (milkfish) in terms of its advantage in the market.
“Walang pagkakaiba yong itsura ng bangus eh so ano ang maari nating gawin,” Lim said.
He said the declaration of moratorium on fish pens/fish cages operations in the city and the dismantling of fish pens in Dagupan are part of the effort to keep the quality of the Dagupan bangus. .
“If we don’t act now, tomorrow would be too late.,” he warned.
He pointed out that the city’s rivers are already shallow and badly needs to be dredged.
He added that once the right policies for the use of the river system are in place, fishpond caretakers will soon become operators if they embrace the shift to high-value fish species and by using proper technology.
The city currently produces up to 30 metric tons of bangus daily.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
