April 15, 2008

Philippines set to revive lobster, sea urchin farming

After its tilapia production has made headway, the Philippines, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will restore the lobster and sea urchin industries which are now depleting due to destructive fishing practices.

These two high-value aquatic resources will make its initial reinforcement at Barangay Taggat in Cagayan's northernmost Claveria town.

As highly-priced favourites in fancy restaurants, BFAR will award these two species to the local fishers association for stock enhancement technology and culture medium intended to propagate both species. 

BFAR says the population of sea urchin, locally known as maritangtang, started to dwindle in the 1990s due to indiscriminate gathering.

The bureau will award five pieces of half-cubic-meter cages with bamboo frame and plastic screen as culture medium with 3,000 juvenile stocks as starting culture. The initial stock had come from produce of a similar project from the neighbouring town of Santa Ana known for its delectable marine resources. 

For lobster production, the agency will use a similar project structure but larger cage, with feed usually being trash fish and seaweeds. 

Additionally, the lobster cage, will serve as temporary shelter for gravid or egg-bearing females to enable them to release their eggs in safety, according to Dr Evelyn Ame, the province's BFAR research head. This will ensure regeneration (of species), since the fishermen will no longer harvest the pregnant females, she said.

Likewise, the stock of sea urchins will be fed with seaweeds (Sargassum) present in the area, until they are ready for harvest, which is within six to eight months.

The culture area for sea urchins will double as mini-reproductive reserves are known as "free spawners," said Ame which means fertilization occurs in the water where eggs and sperm are released.