BFAR 8 empowers fisherfolks through “Rent-a-Cage” Program

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 24, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  In order to encourage small fisher folk to venture in mariculture parks, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 8 (BFAR) helps fishermen organize themselves into cooperatives and enroll in its "Rent-a-Cage" Program.

Under this scheme, the fishermen could start raising fish and pay the cage rent, including the cost of production after selling their produce, according to BFAR Region 8 Director John Albaladejo.

Already, a number of fisherfolks group in the municipality of Basey, Samar have already availed of the BFAR’s Cages-for-Rent program, the good Director said.

BFAR encourages the fisherman to organize themselves into cooperatives and enroll in its “Rent-a-Cage Program” to enable them to start raising fish and pay the cage rent, including the cost of production, after selling their produce. Within two years or an average of four harvests, the group shall have been able to fully pay the cage and acquire additional cages for their business venture.

A bamboo fish cage costs P470,000 and a GI pipe cage, P576,000. This amount covers the cost of the cage, fingerlings, feeds and labor, among others during the grow-out period, BFAR said. Within a period of two years or an average of four harvests, fishermen cooperative could be able to pay in full the cost of the cage and acquire additional cages for their business venture.

Besides empowering small fisher folk, the establishment of mariculture parks also helps mitigate the ill effects of climate change on the fisheries sector. Coral bleaching, changes in the migratory patterns of fishes, occurrence of dreadful diseases and even mutation are among the adverse effects of climate change on the marine environment.

Mariculture parks provide a respite for marine life to flourish and increase in population without any adverse effects on the environment.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has established 40 mariculture parks nationwide. The latest of which are the 2 mariculture parks in Sorsogon.

The other mariculture parks in Luzon are found in Sto. Tomas, La Union; Casiguran Aurora; Padre Burgos and Tagkawayan in Quezon; Looc, Romblon; San Jose City, Occidental Mindoro; Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; and Ragay and Sangay in Camarines Sur.

In the Visayas, these mariculture parks are in Talibon, Bohol; Brgy. Malahog, Calbayog City; Basey and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar; San Jose, Sta. Rita and Laoang in Northern Samar; Liloan, Southern Leyte; Batbatngon, Merida, Tacloban City and Ormoc City in Leyte; and Navalin Biliran.

Those in Mindanao are located in Tungawan, Sibugay, Margosatubig, all in Zamboanga del Sur; Zamboanga City, Murcielagos, Rizal in Zamboanga del Norte; Balingasag, Misamis Oriental; Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; Island Garden City of Samal; Panabo City, Davao del Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental; Surigao City and Dapa, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; Barugo, Surigao del Sur; and Sibutu-Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

These types of industrial parks in sea that were first conceptualized five years ago by the BFAR include basic infrastructure facilities like mooring systems that are set up in areas identified by marine technologists as ideal for fish farming.

Mariculture parks operate much like industrial estates on land, with investors setting up or renting fish cages to grow high-value marine species such as bangus, lapu¬lapu, siganids, seaweeds and other high-value aquatic organisms.