Mariculture parks to be established

PHILIPPINES - The Philippines is eyeing to become a major player in the multi-billion dollar live-food-fish export business by establishing two mariculture highways that will link the network of mariculture parks (MPs) already set up all over the country, said Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr. of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

"The idea here is to synchronize both the production and harvest operations of the fish cages. This way, we will have more control in production that eventually could lead to increase our exports of high value live fish species such as grouper or lapu-lapu and sea bass or apahap and other fresh/frozen fish and shellfish products like bangus and abalone that are produced in commercial quantities in the MPs," he said.

Director Sarmiento, who accompanied House Speaker Jose de Venecia in his recent official tour to China revealed that in their series of meetings with China officials many Chinese businessmen had signified their interest to venture into aquaculture in the country. As a result of the visit, Chinese delegations will be visiting the country within the next few months to discuss possible areas of collaboration and partnerships with Filipino fish farmers, he said.

Source: The Manila Bulletin Online