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Archives
March 1-15, 2000
Aquaculture:
the way to go for national development
by Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon
"Aquaculture will continue to become the fastest
growing food production sector in the world in the new
millenium and is an increasingly important contributor
to national development, the global food supply and
food security." This is according to the Bangkok
Declaration on Aquaculture that was drafted during the
International Conference on Aquaculture in the Third
Millennium in Bangkok, Thailand last 20-25 February
2000.
The Philippines was represented by Ms. Marie Antonette
Juinio-Jimenez of the UP Marine Science Institute through
the financial assistance of the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR).
According to Ms. Jimenez, the Philippines is lagging
behind the aquaculture development "despite strategic
advantages - such as being in Asia (which is considered
as the center of aquaculture development in the world)
and having highly trained researchers and excellent
planners." One factor that may have contributed
to this is the continued disregard for certain environmental
issues and impact of aquaculture such as the degradation
of Laguna de Bay. While other countries have learned
from it (Laguna de Bay), "it seems that we have
not," she said.
In this light, several suggestions were
made to maximize and optimize the potential of aquaculture
in promoting sustainable agricultural and national development:
- Formulate a national policy and program for aquaculture
consistent with the principles of sustainable development;
- Human resource development/ training on responsible
fisheries through orientation and information dissemination
by the national and regional networks as effected
by AFMA;
- Comprehensive Program to (re)train fishery extension
workers/policy makers on holistic planning and resource
management;
- Formulate an integrated coastal management framework
in the expansion of aquaculture development in coastal
waters to prevent water use conflicts and environmental
degradation;
- Forge partnerships with the private sector and enable
policy/legal support to address social-economic and
environmental issues in the interest of national development;
- Inclusion of proper socio-economic and environmental
contexts when setting food production targets in the
fishery sector; and
- Involve various stakeholders in the decision and
implementation process of programs.
March 1-15 2000 Articles: ::
WINROCK
international to co-fund project with BAR
::
Aquaculture:
the way to go for national development
::
Fiber
technical meeting held
::
BAR funds 3rd APMBC proceedings
::
FDASP
opens new opportunity
::
Fisheries and aquaculture projects in Batanes identified
::: More March 2000 articles :::
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