Fishery experts say that out of 450,000 hectares mangrove areas in the Philippines in 1938, only 138,000 hectares remained in 1993 and is projected to go down further to 1,000 in 2030 if annual decline rate of 2,000 to 3,000 hectares per year continue.
To prevent further destruction, lawmakers had enacted Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, specifically Sec. 94 which prohibits the conversion of mangroves into fishponds or any other purposes.
With the intent to strike a balance between resource use and conservation, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources promotes mangrove aquaculture technically known as aquasilvi.
This technology allows the culture of economically important fish species within a mangrove ecosystem without significantly altering its natural state or condition.
In effect, it can even expedite mangroves rehabilitation as stakeholders team to value this natural resource.
Crab Rearing in Mangroves to Reverse Destruction
PHILIPPINES - The massive promotion of Philippine aquaculture in the '60s and '70s regrettably has led to the destruction of this invaluable resource.
