The Municipality of Dalaguete in the southern part of Cebu province is poised to employ new technology in fisheries and aquaculture industries, following the town officials’ visit to Japan led by Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante.  In an interview with Cesante, he said there is a need to boost fish production, both from sea and freshwater sources, to meet the growing demand, particularly within the Cebu province. Cesante cited the 2020 data, revealing that Cebu province’s market demand for fish products stands at 200,000 metric tons annually. Regrettably, Cebu currently falls significantly short, producing only 38,000 to 40,000 metric tons per year. With this new Japanese technology, seawater fish can be cultured in a freshwater environment through several processes known in Japan as “third water” technology.

Cesante, together with Dr. Roldan Saragena, the province’s head of the Department of Agriculture (DA) visited Japan last November 13-14, 2023, along with private sector representatives, to personally witness the new technology on aquaculture. Hiroyuki Hirano, the President of the Okayama University of Science, and Professors Toshimasa Yamamoto and Akihiro Orita, faculty members of Okayama University of Science Department of Engineering, introduced to the Cebu delegation the successful implementation of land-based aquaculture using freshwater in fish tanks situated in the mountains and other inland areas of Japan, Cambodia, and Mongolia.

Aside from Mayor Cesante and Dr. Saragena, the delegates were composed of Engr. Expedizitas S. Lenares, Engr. Jireh G. Burda, Mrs. Joanna J. Cesante, Mr. Jose Manuel A. Canton, and sisters Teresa and Myriam Canton. The delegates were informed that Professor Yamamoto’s groundbreaking aquaculture technology has the potential for successful replication in third-world countries, with a particular focus on its applicability in the Philippines.

Considering the pressing food security concerns in the Philippines, Okayama University of Science has affirmed its commitment to providing technical assistance and technological support through its experts, notably Professor Yamamoto. “I was surprised to see a land-based aquaculture facility in the mountains. We are from a similar area [like in Mantalongon, Dalaguete], so this will be a good reference for us,” said Cesante. He further highlighted that malnutrition is an escalating issue in his town, underscoring a substantial deficiency in protein nutrients that can be derived from both fish and meat sources.

Given the unpredictable fish production in seawater attributed to climate change, Cesante stressed the crucial need to establish a robust aquaculture facility within the town. This facility is anticipated to not only yield freshwater fish but also a diverse array of wild seawater fish, providing a more stable and sustainable source. The Mayor hopes that what the delegates learned during the two-day immersion can be applied to create land-based aquaculture facilities not just in Dalaguete but across the Philippines. Mantalongon, the second-largest barangay in Dalagute, is known as the vegetable basket of Cebu, Cesante’s focus extends to the development of a four-hectare land donated by Jose Manuel Canton. This area is earmarked to become an eco-tourism, serving as the site for innovative aquaculture initiatives.

At the same time, the land will also be used to produce high-value crops like zucchini, leaks, heart, and cherry tomatoes, among others. In line with the program set forth by the newly appointed DA secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Cesante emphasized that one of his top priorities is the advancement of the town’s aquaculture and mariculture industries. He views these developments as the ultimate solutions to address both food security and poverty issues.

Source: The Freeman Cebu Business (https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-business/2023/11/24/2313850/dalaguete-use-japanese-tech-boost-fish-production)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has kicked off a training with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) cantonment officials and other fisheries stakeholders in coastal community fisheries.

The development of marine fisheries management plan was initiated since 2021 with funding from the EU under FAO Complementary Support to the Cambodia Programme for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Fisheries Sector (CAPFISH-Capture) which is one of the largest EU supported fisheries programmes in the world. The programme aims to improve fisheries conservation, management and compliance with fisheries laws and regulations including the National Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Marines Fishing in the inland and marine domain, particularly through strengthened fisheries management frameworks.

The project is a part of ongoing efforts aimed at improving the livelihoods of coastal community fisheries. The training will build stakeholder capacity in management of fisheries which in the long term supports the protection and rehabilitation of fish resources and habitats. Essential fish habitats include coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove forest and these are necessary for fish reproduction, growth, feeding and shelter, according to FAO.

Marine fish cannot survive without these vital healthy habitats. Effective management of fisheries will therefore contribute to the process of enabling growth in the value generated by marine fisheries while ensuring that resources are exploited at an economically efficient and sustainable rate. Buoy Roitana, Deputy Director-General of Fisheries Administration, said all parties should work together to strengthen efforts to reduce practices and activities that have negative impacts on fishery resources, habitats, and profitability.

“Controlling the quantity of fish that can be taken by fishing is essential for ensuring sustainable use,” he said. “Part of the process is bringing stakeholders together to improve understanding and acceptance of the need for everyone to collaborate on designing and implementing solutions.” FiA initiated development of a marine fisheries management plan which is now undergoing the approval process. The plan will help rehabilitate and protect fish resources and critical habitats and enable a variety of user groups to benefit from the usage of fish.

FiA also developed the plan with technical support from FAO and in consultation with stakeholders at all levels including local authorities and fishing communities who play a key role in the decision-making process. “This training is being organised to help management level within FiA, cantonment, inspectorates and community fisheries, fishers to understand the mechanisms that can be used to manage marine fisheries resources, said Phen Bunthoeun, Technical Advisor of Marine Fisheries Management at FAO Cambodia.

“It is conceived as an interactive workshop with many groups and role play exercises to enable stakeholders and key actors to apply techniques, creating more stable and predictable conditions of fish stock,” he added. Training sessions are being held in Kep province yesterday and today and in Kampot province on November 21 and 23. It will engage with a total of 60 representatives from Phnom Penh and the coastal provinces overall. As the next step, the marine fisheries management plan will be approved and launched early next year. EU and FAO support Fisheries Administration for improved livelihoods of coastal community fisheries.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501393605/eu-fao-kick-off-training-to-manage-fisheries-resources/

The 37th INFOFISH Governing Council Meeting, successfully held from 14-17 Nov 2023, in Manila, Philippines with the kind support and delegates from the member countries and observers. Many thanks for everyone involved and see you for the next GCM.

Source: INFOFISH