BFAR Region 2 Typhoon Rehab Allocates 5.8 Million Fingerlings
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office No. 2 has started the provision of rehabilitation assistance for fisherfolk in Cagayan Valley affected by the recent super typhoon ‘Pepeng.’
As outlined in its rehab plan, the bureau will provide a total of 5.8 million fingerlings for some 2,787 fish farmers affected by the calamity.
BFAR Region 2 Disaster Action Officer and Assistant Regional Director Severina Bueno said that the fisheries agency had already served municipalities that have submitted their master list of affected fisherfolk. The ARD is calling on the rest of the municipalities to submit said document as soon as possible as it serves as basis and reference in releasing assistance.
The super typhoon Pepeng which slammed into central and northern Luzon last October has damaged a total of 1,079.95 hectares of fishponds and communal production areas, 37 fish cages, 26 fishing boats and assorted fishing gears, mainly in the province of Cagayan.
The typhoon has devastated harvestable fish stocks estimated at 236.73 metric tons worth P15.39 million. A total of 7.91 fingerlings and juvenile stocks were also lost during the typhoon.
The marketable stock represents 5.78 percent of Region 2’s aquaculture production target for the third quarter of the year while the non-marketable stocks represent 1,111.4 metric tons of potential production within the next two to four months.
“However, these can not be totally considered as real production losses since fish will just transfer from fishponds to open waters (rivers) when flooding occurs. Any loss on aquaculture will redound to the benefit of municipal fishers,” Bueno said.
Bueno said that part of the fingerling requirement will come from BFAR Region 2 fish farms while the balance will either come from the BFAR NFFTC based in Munoz, Nueva Ecija or will be purchased from private hatcheries.
Bueno added that the respective provincial governments have their own rehabilitation assistance.
Meanwhile, the fisheries agency has also distributed 1.9 million fingerlings in line with the Fish Conservation Week celebration last October.
By Max Prudencio
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