ILOILO City – There is no lack of fish supply in Western Visayas.
“We are not affected by the lack of fish supply,” said Remia Aparri, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The region has a 123-percent fish sufficiency rate, she added.
Last year, the region has produced 398,000 metric tons of aquaculture products.
Although there was a decline in the municipal fishing figures, it was compensated by the commercial fishing, whose production increased 9 percent, Aparri said.
The decline in municipal production was attributed to climate change, less supply of bangus fry and the high cost of production input.
Some fishpond owners have yet to recover their losses due to super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, too.
Aside from seaweeds, Aparri said milkfish remains to be the top produce in Western Visayas when it comes to aquaculture.
The provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental are the top producers of bangus.
Aparri said some traders and operators sell their produce when there are no available supplies.
“The government will be putting up hatcheries and will improve the existing hatcheries to increase the bangus fry production,” Aparri added.
Most of the hatcheries will be established in Region 4A, Central Visayas and Mindanao.
There will be minimal hatcheries to be established in Western Visayas due to the presence of the South East Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) that produces milkfish fries. There are also other bangus hatcheries in Iloilo and Negros Occidental. (PNA)
