The commercial production through grow-out culture of “Ulang,” the Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in the Liguasan Marsh could earn local farmers as much as P400,000 per hectare per year, according to a study conducted by the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC).
The result of the study came almost five months since I invited SEAFDEC to send a team of experts to the Liguasan Marsh to assess the viability of Giant Freshwater Prawn and freshwater fish farming in cages.
in September last year, I joined the team in the visit to the area and met with local officials of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur through the facilitation of former Congresswoman Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema.
In a report submitted to SEAFDEC Executive Director Dan Biliao, the team of Aquaculture experts composed of Dr. Sheryll Avanceña, Marwin dea Cruz, These Marie Geanga and Janice Tambiorao said the project could start with the collection of adult “Ulang” which is native to the marsh to be sent to the Giant Freshwater Prawn Hatchery at SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, for breeding purposes.
The Hatchery facility in SEAFDEC can produce GFP post-larvae from the adult prawns for stock enhancement or grow-out culture in the marsh using 4×4 cages using bamboo to check the project’s viability.
To make the project sustainable n the long run, SEAFDEC has recommended the establishment of a GFP Hatchery near the Liguasan Marsh adjacent to natural seawater and freshwater
sources as the hatchery needs both during the larval rearing stage.
The hatchery estimated to cost P7-M could produce 2-million post-larvae every year which could then be reared and grown in the cages in the marsh area.
One hectare of fish cages could earn local farmers at least P400,000 every year, according to SEAFDEC.
With this very positive assessment by SEAFDEC, I will now submit a recommendation to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr through the new National Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to provide support to the Giant Freshwater Prawn Hatchery and Production Project.
