PHILIPPINES - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Bicol Region and the local governments of Sorsogon City and Magallanes town have have come together to develop mariculture project zones for displaced shellfish farmers.
During the recent project launch, BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr., Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic Dioneda and Magallanes town Mayor Abelardo Arambulo signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the rules and regulations governing the operations, management and maintenance of the mariculture zones, reports news agency Balita.
According to Balita, they also led the ceremonial stocking of bangus and grouper fingerlings as well as seaweed seedlings in the technology-demonstration fish cages at the Banao port in Barangay Salvacion, Sorsogon City, and the municipal port in Magallanes town.
The Mariculture Zone Development and Management Project will be situated in Sugot Bay in the coastal barangay of Sugod, Bacon District, covering a total area of 500 hectares.
The 300-hectare Magallanes Mariculture Zone Project, on the other hand, will be established in Bagatao and Tinacos Islands in Barangay Bacolod.