Shellfish production expected to rise
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is out to intensify and sustain the production of shellfish in the country by putting more science into the existing technology to reduce poverty and generate economic transformation for fishermen.
BFAR Director Asis Perez, said in a PUNCH interview last week “There is big potential (of shellfish industry), there is a growing number of tourists coming over and looking for shellfish and we have so many brackish water area where shellfish can be grown.”
He said there are about 19,525 shellfish grower-beneficiaries who will be provided with one unit raft-type module for shellfish farming nationwide, except for the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Asis said the BFAR Center in Dagupan City has started this shellfish program in 1985 to develop the industry, thus “we’re trying to bring back this mandate to them so we will do all the training programs here to further enhance the technology of shellfish which will be the major mandate of the center”.
He added that this venture is very profitable, which, based on their study, has 40 percent return of investment.
“Whatever is your input, you generate about 40 percent income,” he said.
He said the Philippines is a natural shellfish producing area. “We have enough expertise. What we are doing now is actually utilizing our own capabilities, our own experts,” he said.
He said BFAR Dagupan already has a lot of technology already being done here.
“What we need to do is to use the existing capabilities nationwide so it’s faster,” he added.
Asis was here to address a two-day trainers’ training at the BFAR Center in Barangay Binloc on August 4 and 5 joined by regional and provincial focal persons. (Tita Roces)
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