This he pronounced in
his address to some 45 fisheries technicians who attended the
Retooling of LGU-Fisheries Technicians sponsored by BFAR RO 8,
BFAR-Samar and BFAR-Regional Fishery Training Center at the Samar
State University (SSU) Mercedes, Campus on Wednesday.
Although Albaledejo
admitted that there are some problems in the fishery sector partly due
to overfishing, climate change and high cost of fuel still he
announced that during the first quarter of the year, fishery in the
region posted a growth rate of 10.7%. He attributed 60% of which to
aqua culture.
Presently, he said
that there are 15 locators (investors) in marine culture, most are
found in the San Juanico area near
Tacloban City.
Samar fisherfolks, he
added, must be taught to become fish farmers by engaging in
aquaculture, seaweeds and mollusk farming.
Small fisherfolks will
also be taught to develop mangrove nurseries, seaweeds production,
marine fish cages and even fish processing, added BFAR RFTC 8 Training
Director Norberto Berida.
BFAR Fishery Officer
Rolando Ay-ay also added that they had employed fish seeding in the
rivers and other water forms of Samar.
As to the destructive
modes of fishing, the full implementation of the Municipal Fishery
Ordinance (MFO) in all Samar towns is expected to address the problem.
As to rising fuel
cost, Berida said that they advise small fisherfolks to sail to the
fishing grounds using ‘sail’ or layag. It is only when they had done
with fishing will they use their 3 or 5 HP motorboats, he offered.
Another suggestion is
to organize all fisherfolks and request fuel subsidy from the national
government as enjoyed by the transport sector, said one speaker Cylet
Lluz.
Despite the odds in
fishery, Albaladejo seems not to run out of ideas to boost the fishery
industry.
His team is also
trying to address the dying mussel industry due to pollution and
siltation. He stressed that mussel stakes should be spaced enough for
sea-water to wash out whatever impurities seem to stagnate.
Another technology,
the raft method said to be originally developed by Gerardo Malinao is
now being adapted by most fisherfolks.
All things considered,
the fishery experts are bent on providing fish or marine products in
the market for human consumption.
