Fisherfolk group nets 560 kilos of bangus

By Cet Dematera

Some 560 kilos of milkfish or bangus were harvested by the members of Sitio Anonang Homapon Fisher Folks Association (HFFA) in Legazpi City after three months of growing the fish in a cage.

HFFA President Edna Adille said that they harvested more than 14 bathtubs (Banyeras) or 560 kilos of bangus in the 16x16-meter fish cage fenced with net, water drums and GI pipes at a cove of Homapon in Albay Gulf.

Adille said that she was very grateful to the City Agriculture Office (CAO) and Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for giving them an opportunity to grow milkfish, adding that this project is very beneficial as it could improve the livelihood condition of association members.

She explained that the 32 HFFA members are taking care of fish with routine schedule in monitoring and feeding them 24 hours a day.

Adille said that the proceeds of the harvested fish would again be used to buy bangus and moblad fingerlings to keep the project rolling.

CAO chief Sheila Nas said the fingerings were acquired through the P1.2-million grant released by BFAR to CAO.

She said that the cage is being managed by the Homapon Fisher Folks Association (HFFA) as part of its livelihood program.

Nas revealed that her office had already conducted seminars to the HFFA members that equip them additional knowledge in feeding the brackish-born fish for them to grow faster.

She said the cage is guarded by HFFA caretakers who closely monitor the condition of the milkfish to minimize their mortality until harvesting time.

“The project is part of the Aqua-Culture Development Program (ACDP) of the CAO to promote cultured fish care in order to augment the supply for fish consumption and give additional income to fisherfolk in these communities”, Nas said.

She said the Homapon Cove is also ideal for culturing oyster, mussle (Tahong) fish , sea weeds, lapu-lapu, and moblad.