NorMin fisheries strategizes to improve productivity and profitability

14 August 2008
Marlowe U. Aquino, PhD

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Northern Mindanao have gradually and systematically developed a strategy to bring about its generated technologies to its clientele and end-users. The strategy is the improvement of production management system on tilapia, bangus and other fishes for better production and increase profit.

According to Ms. Gigi Arbor, DA-BFAR-10 Regional Fisheries Research and Development Center (RFRDC) Manager, all their efforts on research and development including extension and training are towards local and international global competitiveness. They need to provide an avenue that will encourage community participation in the production of quality fishery products. The BFAR - 10 regional office established partnership with the local government in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to construct a regional hatchery processing facility for multi-fishes that would help distribute quality fingerlings to farmers and encourage a steady production of fishes for processing. In so doing, this will enable the region to be fishery abundant at the same time address the fish security and sustainability for its people and communities.

In addition, the RFRDC efforts continuously provide technical assistance that ensures the desirable sizes for fish processing through improved and innovative production management systems such as tilapia culture and bangus culture. Such activities are observed and implemented in Lala, Lanao del Norte for tiaplia fish fillet processing and bangus in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. These activities support the community-based initiative of an integrated fishery production in mariculture parks in the region.

Through these activities, the DA-BFAR - 10 together with the regional fishery council and private sector developed a fishery comprehensive plan which will be implemented by all key players and stakeholders in the region from 2008 to 2010. The plan aims to intensify the operation of fishery research, development, extension and training activities and ensures abundance of fish production and increase income for people and their communities. Furthermore, the identified operations and activities will use community-based participatory action research approach including local governance, coastal resource management, and people's participation and empowerment