ILOILO – To address the decreasing population of blue swimming crabs, a hatchery was established at the Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) in the municipality of Concepcion.
The provincial government, headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., led the blessing and inauguration of the crab hatchery on Aug. 31, together with Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Provincial Agriculture Office chief Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, Concepcion’s Mayor Milliard Villanueva, head of the Aquaculture Department (AQD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Dan Baliao, and Dr. Erwin Ilaya of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Iloilo, among others.
The P5-million facility was funded in 2018 during the administration of then governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
During the present administration, roughly P3 million was allotted for the fencing and other support equipment.
Toledo said the province is making efforts as the hatchery could increase the blue swimming crab population, which has export potential but is threatened by environmental conditions and indiscriminate fishing.
“We have to maintain and balance sang aton population sang blue crab para mangin sustainable,” added Toledo.
Once operational, the crablets will be disposed of in marine protected areas in the province for possible breeders.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed a decrease in the production of blue swimming crabs in the province from 5,282.79 metric tons in 2020 to 4,808.98 in 2021.
Aside from increasing the stocks of crab, Toledo said the facility could also serve as a learning hub for Fisheries students to help them become industry-ready when they graduate.
Defensor said the facility is an important facet of the province’s overall program and initiatives for conserving and managing the Visayan Sea, adding that he hopes the province can do the same with other species.
“In the Iloilo provincial government, we see crab as a commodity. For us, fundamentally, it is a source of protein. And together with other products of the sea, we want to develop our capability to practically contribute (to the conservation of the Visayan Sea),” he said.
Furthermore, the provincial government is collaborating with SEAFDEC and the universities and colleges in Iloilo to develop a research and development program, and one important subject is fisheries. (With a report from the Capitol news)/PN
