Nation’s top aquaculturists honored
TWO of the nation’s leading aquaculturists were honored Dec. 17 at the Asian Fisheries Academy (AFA) of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center (NIFTDC) for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the country’s fishery sector.
Honored jointly by the Philippine Aquaculture Society Inc. (PASI) and the Society of Aquaculture Engineers of the Philippines Inc (SAEP) were Dr. Catalino de la Cruz, an agricultural engineer from Nueva Ecija and Fred Yap from Misamis Occidental, now executive director of the Santeh Aquaculture Science and Technology Foundation Inc.
The two were honored by making them leave their footprints on stone tablets in front of the AFA where the footprints of two other great men who made their respective marks in the annals of aquaculture industry in the Philippines could be found.
PASI is headed by Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the NIFTDC and concurrently chair of the Board of Fisheries Examiners under the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).
Dr. Rosario expects this act to encourage and inspire the young to contribute their share in improving fisheries and aquaculture throughout the country.
The two other previous honorees were Herminio Rabanal of Alaminos City on Nov. 29, 2013; and Pierre Morissens, a Belgian global scientist who collaborated with the BFAR here in the conduct of comprehensive research on saline tilapia molobicus program who was honored March 21, 2014.
Dr. De la Cruz was honored for his notable works in aquaculture engineering and integrated agri-aqua farming in the Philippines that contributed to improved fish and rice production.
On the other hand, Yap was honored for his novel concept of “Maricuture Park for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Sea” which, he said can be conducted in any area in the Philippines to free rivers and lakes of pollution. (Leonardo Micua)
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