LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday dispersed 5 million fingerlings of various non-invasive species in Laguna de Bay as part of its bid to rejuvenate the country’s fisheries production.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the restocking of native fish species in the country’s largest lake is the first among future rehabilitation activities under the DA’s five-year Project Basil, or “Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa”. He said the project aims to lower the poverty incidence in fishing communities across the country.
“Project Basil is aimed at making food accessible to poor families living near lakes, rivers and creeks as an initial step to address poverty. It is also designed to ease pressure on the country’s coastal fishing grounds, which have been overfished because of reduced catch from inland fishing grounds,” Piñol said.
The Basil project is the DA’s response to President Duterte’s order to dismantle fishpens in the lake, which deprived small fishermen of space where they can freely fish or put up cages, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.
“The move was approved and accepted by stakeholders of the lake including the Laguna Lake Development Authority, local government units around Laguna de Bay, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council, and officers of fishers’ groups in Laguna de Bay,” the BFAR said.
The BFAR added the 5 million fingerlings worth P3.65 million were comprised of ulang (freshwater prawn), bangus (milkfish) and tilapia.
The BFAR also said it is eyeing to disperse 210 million fingerlings of suitable indigenous fishes, such as ayungin, biya, martiniko, kanduli and dalag by 2020 across identified bodies of water.
The BFAR added it would need at least P100 million to disperse 210 million fingerlings.