Town in Dinagat Islands emerges as one of PH’s lobster producers
Renelle Luzon Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Surrounded by glimmering cerulean waters and a vast coastline, the Dinagat Islands are blessed with rich aquamarine resources, notably high-value lobsters.
The burgeoning lobster farming industry in the Province of Dinagat Islands took center stage at the recent Caraga Business Conference held in San Jose. The conference drew over 300 business owners and entrepreneurs from across the region, as well as investors from other parts of the Philippines.
According to the Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, the lobster industry is experiencing significant expansion.
However, lobster farmers are increasingly facing a shortage of supply, leading to delays in their production cycles.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also reported that the rising demand for lobsters has resulted in indiscriminate harvesting from deep waters, posing a serious threat to the crustaceans’ natural habitat. This unsustainable practice compromises the Philippines’ standing as a leading lobster exporter, alongside Vietnam and Indonesia.
Amid these challenges, the municipality of Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands emerged at the conference to showcase its thriving and sustainable lobster industry. In 2024 alone, Cagdianao’s production reached 27.71 metric tons (MT) of lobsters, significantly contributing to addressing the national scarcity of lobster supply.
Mayor Marc Adelson D. Longos proudly stated, “Cagdianao, with municipal waters spanning 321,127.33 hectares, is recognized as the lobster capital of the province and has consistently contributed to the region’s lobster supply for both local and international markets.”
He further explained that the town’s surrounding waters are abundant with juvenile lobster species, encouraging local fisherfolk to explore lobster aquaculture as a promising and sustainable source of livelihood.
“To promote sustainable aquaculture, support local livelihood, revitalize the lobster industry, and boost tourism and economic growth, the local government of Cagdianao, through its Fisheries Development Program and in partnership with the DTI – Dinagat Islands, established a Shared Service Facility (SSF) focused on mariculture platforms for lobster production,” Mayor Longos added.
The SSF includes two modules, each with eight units of 3 meters by 4 meters mariculture platforms, capable of stocking up to 960 lobsters. The facility is operated by the Cagdianao Farmers and Fisherfolk Marketing Cooperative (CAFFIMACO) in Barangay Cabangaan.
This successful initiative has begun to expand to other towns within the province that also show potential for lobster farming. Basilisa recorded a lobster production of 0.891 MT in 2024, while Libjo produced 0.024 MT during the same period.
Economic Prospects
For the local fisherfolk, lobsters weighing 500 grams or more are classified as marketable-sized stock and fetch a price of 2,800 pesos per kilogram. Smaller lobsters, below 500 grams each, are utilized by growers and sold for 250 to 450 pesos per piece.
With its significant economic value, as recognized and acknowledged during the Caraga Business Conference, lobster farmers in Dinagat Islands are optimistic about receiving increased government support and the establishment of stronger market linkages. These developments are crucial to ensure the continued thriving of lobster farming in the province and its contribution to national food security.
Lobsters are crustaceans, aquatic animals characterized by jointed legs, a hard exoskeleton, and the absence of a backbone. They possess elongated bodies with muscular tails and typically inhabit crevices or burrows on the sea floor. Notably, three of their five pairs of legs feature claws, with the first pair usually being significantly larger than the others. The edible and highly sought-after parts of a lobster include the tail, claws, and knuckles, all containing a substantial amount of sweet and tender meat, along with the body and legs. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)
