Few years ago, fish experts warned that marine resources are already depleting and that most of the fish that will be eaten in the succeeding years will be farmed, not caught. This now holds true for the Philippines. Latest statistics shows that 45.6% of the country's fish production came from aquaculture compared to 27.2% both for municipal and capture.

The dwindling catch from the seas and other marine tributaries poses a huge problem to the fisheries sector which prompted the Philippine government to delve into mariculture or sea farming. This involves the cultivation of marine resources for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with seawater.

But in 2004, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Malcolm I. Sarmiento thought of a better way to jazz up mariculture - operate it similarly to an industrial estate but has the ambiance of a good old nature-themed park. Hence, the naissance of mariculture parks in the country.

Mariculture parks include all facilities an aquaculture farmer needs: hatcheries, ice storage, electricity, transport, market access, feed and many others. Covering 500 hectares or more, mariculture parks are subdivided its "farm plots" for fish cage operation, seaweed farming and other aquaculture farming methods. Investors pay an annual lease to develop and produce products and services in the park. The government on the other hand will extend technological help and other necessities to farmers and other stakeholders.

Along with the local government and other stakeholders, a management council is organised and a development plan is laid out to ensure a healthy mariculture environment. Moreover, these mariculture parks will serve as "highways" to nearby export markets such as Hong Kong, China and Japan as its novel thoroughfares, particularly in Mindanao, and will make business transactions in these countries easily carried out. Bangus (milkfish), seaweeds, tilapia, groupers and shellfishes are the most popular cultivated species in mariculture.

According to Sarmiento, there are already 40 mariculture parks with Visayas registering the highest number at 16, followed by Mindanao with 13 and Luzon, 11. This year, BFAR is anticipating the establishment of 11 or more mariculture parks.

 

The wonders of mariculture

Sarmiento says mariculture investors are assured of these wonderful advantages: a) large areas of ideal fishing ground which produces year-round of marine catch; b) availability of skilled and qualified manpower for production, finance, legal and even support services; c) support from nearby BFAR research stations such as SEAFDEC, UP and other agencies d) a strategic location and flourishing links for foreign investors to other Southeast Asian countries.

Canning and filleting plants, shares the BFAR chief, are some of the interesting areas of investment while on the supply side, investment in feed mills and sea cage fabrication are also profitable. And perhaps the finest is aqua tourism venture such as tours and recreational diving whereas the country has among the world's best coral reefs and marine life.

But mariculture, Sarmiento emphasises, is all about empowering fishermen. "The farming of fish in sea cages ensures the fishermen of a more regular harvest and therefore of a more regular source of income. Unlike in fishing that would require the use of expensive fuels, fish farming using cages that only requires constant caring and feeding of the fish stocks in a specific location," he shares. 

For instance, fishermen in Panabo Mariculture Park in Davao del Norte have reported to earn more than their usual income. According to Sarmiento, bangus sells an average of PHP86.00 (US$1.85) farmgate price and after four months of operation, a 10m x10m x5m cage stocked with 15,000 bangus fingerlings could easily harvest an average of 6,000 kilos of fish. With production cost of PHP70.00 to (US$1.50) PHP75.00 (US$1.61) per kilo, a fish farmer could easily earn more PHP90,000 (US$1,938.40) per cage or a total PHP180,000 (US$3,876.80) for two cropping periods per year. "This is a far departure from the usual two to three kilos of fish caught on ordinary days by a marginal fisherman," relates Sarmiento.

Although investments would range from PHP100,000 or US$2,000 (this includes cost of cage, fingerlings, feeds and labour) and above, BFAR encourages fishermen to organise into cooperatives and enrol in its "Rent-a-Cage Programme." Under this scheme, the fisherman could start raising fish and pay the cage rent, including production costs after selling their produce. Within a period of two years or an average of four harvests, the group would be able to pay in full the cost of cage and acquire additional cages for their business venture.

Another good thing about mariculture park is it is also an important conservation measure to alleviate the ill-effects of climate change. Scientists claim that abnormal weather patterns such as coral bleaching, changes in migratory patterns of important fishes, occurrence of dreadful disease and mutation, will greatly affect coastal environment and fish population. In this case, Sarmiento says that when fishermen are weaned from fish hunting to fish farming, it has two-pronged advantages.  Fish farming will assure fishermen that fish would be harvested, reduced working hours as well as costs of fuel. For the environment, it means a rest for a marine life to flourish and increase population.

Given the enormous potential of mariculture parks, it can be considered a very good investment for any agri-entrepreneurs. But most importantly, it will be a good driving force in embarking Philippine aquaculture into a vast sea of opportunities. 
 
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