Idle cages restocked with bangus fingerlings in Pangasinan town

ANDA, Pangasinan – Fish cage operators in this island town whose cages had remained idle for years are getting a fresh start after receiving bangus (milkfish) fingerlings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 1 on Tuesday, June 16.

The assistance is part of BFAR’s program to boost fish production in the region by repopulating unused cages in mariculture areas. The beneficiaries, however, will shoulder the costs of feeds, labor, and other production inputs.

READ: BFAR provides bangus fry, fishing gear to Pangasinan fish farmers

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BFAR Region 1 Director Remely Lachica said the operators had stopped stocking their cages due to the shortage and rising cost of fingerlings, as well as losses incurred after Typhoons Emong and Uwan battered the province last year.

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A total of 320,000 bangus fingerlings were delivered to Anda and dispersed into eight fish cages owned by two operators, with each cage receiving 40,000 fingerlings.

Lachica said BFAR procured 7.227 million bangus fingerlings worth P42 million for the project, which is expected to benefit 46 fish cage operators across Region 1.

READ: Fry scarcity hits ‘bangus’ growers in Pangasinan

Records from BFAR show that the beneficiaries include 11 operators in Infanta, 16 in Anda, three in Bolinao, and six in Sual, all in Pangasinan.

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In addition, five operators in Sto. Tomas, one each in Rosario and Bacnotan in La Union, and three in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, will receive the free fingerlings.

The initiative seeks to increase fish production, strengthen food security, maximize the use of existing aquaculture facilities, and create livelihood opportunities for fisherfolk and aquaculture stakeholders, while promoting the sustainable growth of the mariculture industry in Region 1.

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Anda Municipal Agriculture Officer Elizabeth Tomas said the project would provide much-needed relief to operators who continue to pay annual permit fees to the local government despite being unable to generate income after suspending their operations.

Region 1 remains the country’s leading producer of bangus./coa

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