Siquijor, Siquijor – On July 26, 2024, thirty (30) fishers from the Caticugan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association (CAFFA) and the Siquijor Inland Fish Groomers Association (SIFGA) successfully completed a two-day training on Bangus Fish Pen Preparation and Management through the FISH Visayas Project. The training aimed to elevate the fishers’ skills in bangus culture, focusing on fish pen requirements, feeding management, stocking operations, and monitoring practices. Additionally, the program sought to enhance the structural integrity of the fish pens by replacing dilapidated bamboo poles and hapa nets in preparation for the next bangus grow-out production cycle.

At present, CAFFA and SIFGA manage fish pens for the culture of bangus and tilapia, supported by an aquaculture production grant from DA-BFAR. Under DA-BFAR’s Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and General Economic Transformation (TARGET) Program, both associations received grants of bangus fingerlings and feeds. For this cycle, DA-BFAR provided a total of 7,000 bangus fingerlings to each association. Ensuring strong and secure fish pens is crucial for sustaining another successful culture and harvest cycle.

Bamboo poles and nets form the structural foundation of fish pens. These components typically require replacement every two years to maintain safety and structural integrity. However, the bamboo poles and nets in CAFFA and SIFGA’s fish pens have not been replaced since 2019, enduring four years of wear and tear. Recognizing the need for urgent upgrades, the FISH Visayas Project initiated the replacement of these essential foundations, with labor and additional support provided by CAFFA and SIFGA.

At the conclusion of the training program, the FISH Visayas Project handed over bundles of nets, nylons, bamboo poles, and cooler boxes as material support to reinforce the fish pens and prepare them for the stocking of fingerlings provided by DA-BFAR.

The successful completion of the training program was made possible through the proactive support of the FISH Visayas Project in Siquijor; the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the DA-BFAR Siquijor Provincial Office, and the local government unit of Siquijor represented by the Municipal Agriculturist Office. The training sessions were facilitated by Mr. Zosimo Caylap, Aquaculturist I at DA-BFAR.

Looking ahead, CAFFA and SIFGA will closely monitor the bangus fingerlings during the four-month culture period and explore opportunities to enhance value-added products from bangus. Both associations have already developed products such as bottled and deboned bangus to diversify their income streams. These products will undergo further testing and registration, paving the way for market introduction and expansion.

—
The Enhancement Training on Bangus Fish Pen Preparation and Management aspires to achieve Result Area 1: Training for Fishermen and MSMEs and Result Area 3: Market Access of the FISH Visayas Project.