LINGAYEN–Some 86,000 tilapia fingerlings were dispersed to communal bodies of water in the municipalities of Malasiqui, Pozorrubio and Agno from January 26 to 27 as part of Gov. Amado Espino, Jr.’s program to boost the fisheries and aquaculture industry in Pangasinan.

Aside from increasing the production of tilapia in rivers, creeks and irrigation systems, the program also aims to promote tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as another famous product of the province and enhance livelihood opportunities for fisherfolks in different municipalities.

Mayor Armando Domantay of Malasiqui, Mayor Artemio Chan of Pozorrubio and Mayor Jose Pajeta, Jr. of Agno lauded Espino’s efforts in helping local folks increase their fish production.

Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said some 20,000 fingerlings that were harvested at the Sta. Barbara Provincial Freshwater Fish Hatchery’s pondliner, a man-made hatchery that uses alternative technology in breeding tilapia, were dispersed in the rivers of Malasiqui located in four barangays, namely: Palong (5,000 pcs.), Goliman (5,000 pcs.), Tomling (5,000 pcs.) and Aliaga (5,000 pcs.).

The San Quintin Provincial Freshwater Fish Hatchery allotted 30,000 fingerlings that were dispersed in Pozorrubio, particularly in Mabeldat Dam (8,000 pcs.) in Barangay Bobonan; Manaol Dam (15,000 pcs.) in Barangay Manaol; and Bued River (7,000 pcs.) in Barangay Tulnac.

Some 36,000 fingerlings sourced from the Lingayen Provincial Freshwater Fish Hatchery were also distributed in Barangay Allabon (28,000 pcs.) in Agno, particularly in Calabidan Creek and Gasao Creek; Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Barangay Tupa (2,000 pcs.); CIS in barangay Oda (1,000 pcs.); and Sto. Rosario Creek (5,000 pcs.) in Barangay Cayungnan.

Within three to four months, the fingerlings will grow into post fingerlings to juvenile and eventually become breeders, the marketable size, where a kilo is composed of six to seven pieces of tilapia.

A municipality or private fishpond operators can make a request to become a recipient of the free fingerlings through a letter addressed to the governor and after which a team of aquaculturists from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will validate the status of communal bodies of water in that area.

Since Espino’s assumption to office, the OPAg has already dispersed to the communal rivers and private fishpond owners in Pangasinan a total of 2,664,494 tilapia fingerlings from July 2007 to December 2011. (PIO/Sheila Aquino)

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