BFAR, PLGU inaugurate 1st freshwater hatchery in Dinagat Islands
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Province of Dinagat Islands recently unveiled and inaugurated its first freshwater hatchery in Barangay General Aguinaldo, Libjo town.
Through collaborative efforts between the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Caraga and the provincial government of Dinagat Islands under the leadership of Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr., through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, this facility is expected to strengthen the province’s fishery sector and food security programs.
BFAR Caraga Director Omnia B. Olama shared the different support of the agency to the province’s fishery sector, such as the recent turnover of commercial fishing vessels to fisherfolk groups in the province.
“If everyone works together with a common goal, everything is possible,” Director Olama said as she congratulated the provincial government and its key provincial offices for another significant milestone as a result of collaboration between the national and local governments.
Dinagat Islands Provincial Agriculturist Rico Galinato emphasized that the freshwater hatchery is envisioned to become a primary source of freshwater fish for the province, especially during periods when fishing activities are affected by unfavorable weather conditions such as the Southwest Monsoon or ‘habagat’ that brings warm, humid air and heavy rainfall in the province.
He highlighted the importance of having a freshwater hatchery in the province to address the challenges in transporting fingerlings from mainland Surigao and other nearby areas to Dinagat Islands.
“A significant number of fingerlings previously died during the transport process, making the establishment of a local freshwater hatchery a practical and sustainable solution to achieve a steady supply of healthy fingerlings for distribution to local fisherfolk and to their organizations,” he said.
“Almost P1 million ang tabang nga gihatag ni BFAR Caraga isip suporta sa modernong pasilidad sa probinsya sama sa fishery inputs” (BFAR Caraga provided almost P1 million worth of support such as fishery inputs to realize this modern facility), Galinato added as he expressed gratitude to BFAR for its unwavering support to the fishery sector in the province.
This project was also spearheaded by the Provincial Agriculture and Aquatic Biosystems Engineering Office (PABEO), Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Community Affairs Office (PCAO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Provincial Information Office (PIO), Local Finance Committee (LFC), and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
With Dinagat Islands’ first freshwater hatchery, this will greatly contribute to the province’s food security, aquaculture development, and sustainable livelihood of the fisherfolk, while strengthening the resilience of local communities against the impacts of climate change on fishing activities. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with reports from Dinagat Islands PIO and PABEO)
