Philippines promotes El Nino-proof mariculture

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday (Apr 20) urged fishermen to shift to El Nino-proof mariculture after the continuing attack of the El Nino phenomenon since early this year.

In its statement, the DA encouraged fishermen to shift to mariculture or sea-cage farming which is not only cheaper and more productive in the long run, but also proven to be sustainable despite the El Nino attack.

Director Malcom Sarmiento of the DA's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the agency has recently inked an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) formalising their partnership in promoting mariculture livelihood ventures in the country's 49 mariculture parks. The agreement will provide fishermen with credit to urge them to take part in the project.

"The project with LBP will help our small fishermen at this critical period when the El Nino dry spell has dried up farmlands, lakes and ponds and also raised the salinity level in our fishing waters, which has affected fish growth and production," said Sarmiento in his report to Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla.

"Shifting from fishing to marine cage farming will help fishermen overcome the El Nino dry spell and at the same time help lower their production costs," he added.