BOLINAO –The Cape Bolinao Sustainable Marine Finfish Hatchery and Eco-Learning Center that will soon rise here, commits to provide 50,000 fish and shrimp fry monthly for local fishpond growers, minimal environmental impacts, if any, and will strongly benefit the economy and the nation’s food security.

This was the reaction of the center to a protest march staged by residents and led by Fr. Robert Reyes over environmental concerns.

In a statement on March 29 from Alex Soriano, vice president for business development of Feedmix, a Bulacan-based aquaculture company that will manage this multi-species hatchery, he said the hatchery will provide an alternative to bangus fry imports from Indonesia, where half of the Philippines’ 3.2 billion bangus fry is being purchased annually.

“Should this project push through soon, we will see the country progressing side-by-side with its neighboring Southeast Asian countries, at least in terms of fostering food security,” Soriano said.

He claimed that the hatchery project has earned the endorsements of Barangay Patar in 2013 after a series of consultations with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Tourism and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

The Sangguniang Bayan also favorably endorsed the hatchery in July 2015.

“It is our selfish interest to keep the waters clean at all times”, Soriano said.

Soriano said the hatchery will have an extensive water treatment system, with multiple layers of sedimentation and natural bio-filters such as seaweeds and oysters—before the hatchery’s water is released back into the sea.

The center will also use its own fish feeds, which are essentially ground fish protein, shaped with natural binders, and does not contain antibiotics, banned chemicals, or synthetic binders, Soriano assured.

“This makes both environmental and business sense, since the hatchery would rely on the same source of seawater to rear its marine life,” he said.

The hatchery, he said, can also share its water treatment technology to resorts in the area since resorts don’t have sewage treatment plants, solid waste processing and adequate water systems.

Patar, the proposed hatchery site, is a coastal barangay famous for its beach.

He added that the hatchery’s marine animals will be reared in tanks due to the delicate water conditions required, and will pose little risk of escaping into the wild, and biosecurity measures would prevent disease from developing.

He assured that government agencies can monitor the food safety and environmental standards in the center. (Tita Roces)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments