The Department of Agriculture (DA) has inaugurated the country’s first shrimp hatchery and broodstock development center, which is part of the government’s efforts to boost aquaculture production in the country.
The DA said the P24-million hatchery and development center in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro was funded by the Bayanihan 2 law.
The facility will focus on the medium-scale production of Penaeus vannamei with a target of 50 million fry per year.
“It’s such a historic occasion to really emphasize that Oriental Mindoro is home to the first DA-BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources] Shrimp Hatchery in the country. All other regions in the country will depend on the fry to be raised here in Bongabong,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement.
“Ang mga mangingisda, shrimp farmers, at entrepreneurs dito ay makakaasa na mayroong ganitong facility ang BFAR na tutulong sa inyo in terms of improved fry that you need in growing and developing the shrimp industry in Oriental Mindoro. [The fisherfolk, shrimp farmers and entrepreneurs here can rely on this BFAR facility to help them access improved fry to grow and develop the shrimp industry in Oriental Mindoro.]”
The DA said the hatchery’s first phase implementation covers the Fry Production Facility, while its target expansion or second phase will cover the Grow-out and Broodstock Development Facility.
“The facility, which includes a laboratory, natural food tank, larval rearing tank, powerhouse/pump house, water reservoir, and covered work area, will provide registered shrimp farmers and 197 BFAR-registered shrimp farms in the region to have a year-round supply of fry.”
The agriculture chief said aquaculture is one of the country’s rising industries, and that shrimp is among the top three commodities.
“Aquaculture will really be the future of the fishery industry and we will focus on three major commodities: milkfish, tilapia, and shrimp,” he said.
“The new hatchery will promote the use of aquaculture areas particularly brackishwater and provide additional employment in the fishery sector.”
The DA said there are about 25,865 registered fishermen in Oriental Mindoro and the province has a total brackishwater fishpond area of about 3,108 hectares.
The agriculture chief challenged DA officials in the region to develop Oriental and Occidental Mindoro “as the food supply island for the National Capital Region.”
“We should work harder to have more sustainable shrimp farms in the whole island of Mindoro, because you are not only securing food for your province but also helping the nearest market for you, which is Metro Manila,” he said.