The Dagupan City government and producers of Bonuan bangus, considered as the highest quality of milkfish in the country, are jointly taking steps to ensure its steady supply in the market despite threats to the industry.

To help achieve this, a census of all fishponds producing Bonuan bangus and their corresponding production is already underway.

The census is being undertaken in line with the plan to label all the authentic bangus going out into the market as such to distinguish it from bangus cultured from other towns and provinces and the “alien” bangus being brought in from other provinces.

“The Bonuan bangus will be closely monitored and properly tagged, from fingerlings to harvest.  We will start from the production site, right from the fishponds in the Bonuan area,” Emma Molina, city agriculturist, told The PUNCH.

The current practice today is to label the Bonuan bangus only at the unloading points.

The total fishpond area for Bonuan bangus has gone down to about 980 hectares from 1,200 three years ago as the unproductive ponds have been closed and re-developed as commercial or residential areas.

Molina said the aim of their office together with the Department of Trade and Industry, is to protect the producers with the assurance that they will continue to produce the real Bonuan bangus.”

The water quality and level in the Bonuan area in Dagupan is about .8 meter only making it the best for producing natural foods for bangus.

Bonuan bangus can be identified by its short head and body and big belly area.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments