April 2, 2008

Philippines launches mariculture project to aid red tide stricken areas

The Philippine province of Sorsogon has recently introduced a mariculture or marine culture project to help fishermen devastated by red tide, with funding of PHP3 million (US$72,000).

The province has lost its PHP10-million a year mussel industry due to algal blooms in the Sorsogon bay.

Vice governor Renato Laurinaria said the provincial legislative board had passed the resolution allocating PHP3 million to be loaned out as starting capital for mariculture ventures to organize fishermen's groups in barangays along the coastlines of Sorsogon.

The groups will engage in fish caging which uses modern method patterned from Japan but will use indigenous materials that are friendly to marine life, Laurinaria said.

High value commercial fish, prawns and crabs that are all abundant in the province and not prone to red tide contamination are the marine species to be cultured through this venture, Laurinaria added.

The Philippines hopes to tap not only the domestic market but also the international market for the produce.