SINCE Sulu Sea is considered one of the richest fishing grounds in the Philippines, it could help promote the growth of the country’s fishing industry.
After all, Sulu is an archipelagic province where fishing serves as its most important industry.
It can be noted that most of Sulu’s marine commodities or resources is composed of a diverse species of economically valued reef and pelagic fishes, marine invertebrates, shellfishes, seaweeds, where some species of which are endemic in the area.
These species are therefore important commodities for the conduct of research and development (R&D) efforts.
Some of these species are even readily available at the market sites in the capital town of Jolo in Sulu where local vendors near the fish landing site can be seen selling different live species of marine invertebrates such as lobster, sea mantis, spanner crab, cuttlefish, squid, and many others, including freshly-caught high-valued reef and pelagic fishes.
The province of Sulu also contributes significantly to the country’s production of economically-valued seaweeds (Kappaphycus sp., Eucheuma sp.) for the local and international markets.
The province’s seaweed farm or culture site can be found in the municipality of Maimbung.
According to the local seaweed growers, the dried seaweeds (with no specific drying rate) are kept in the storehouses located in an adjacent town of Jolo before being shipped and sold to local buyers in Zamboanga, Cebu, and other provinces.
The highly-valued carrageenan is the processed form of seaweed, which is either sold locally or exported to other countries.
A pearl farm also operates in Maimbung, which is an essential source of precious saltwater cultured pearls, and at the same time, generates livelihood for the Sulu fisherfolk.
These highly-valued marine commodities of Sulu were recognized after they were featured during the recent official visit of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) led by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, together with DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) Acting Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, and other officials.
The visit was held in cooperation with the provincial government of Sulu led by Governor Abdusakur M. Tan II.
The visit serves as a significant opportunity to strengthen the DOST and PCAARRD’s presence in the province by identifying suitable Science and Technology (S&T) interventions and assistance that the agencies may provide as well as to initiate potential R&D collaborations with government agencies, private/non-government organizations, and academic institutions in Sulu.
The team together with university researchers/project leaders from Mindanao visited the College of Fisheries at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Sulu Campus, where various technologies and processed marine products were highlighted by the institution.
The products included bottled sardines, danggit (dried siganid), seaweed candy, and bottled uyap (Acetes sp.), among many others.
These important commodities can play a vital role in the biological diversity of Sulu’s marine resources and generation of employment in the province.
It is a significant effort to plan and manage these resources to attain its sustainable utilization as well as help maintain food security. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
