Lake Nato’s SAAD fish cage beneficiaries attend benchmarking trip to Nasipit Mariculture Park

Fish cage operators and local officials from the Municipality of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur attended a one-day benchmarking trip to the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) and Mariculture Park at Bryg. Ata-atahon, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte on August 20, 2021.

The activity was initiated by the Provincial Fisheries Office of Agusan del Sur (PFO-ADS) in support of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (DA-SAAD) in fisheries.

The benchmarking trip aimed to equip the fish cage operators with best practices in fish cage operation and be informed of innovations that are applicable to their respective fish cages. They also learned proper fish handling techniques to lessen post-harvest losses.

The participants are among the operators who have aquaculture operations in the waters of Lake Nato, which forms part of the Agusan River.

For the part of the LGU officials, their interest was in the management of the Mariculture Park to help them strengthen local ordinances that will support the establishment of the Esperanza aquaculture park in the future.

Chairperson Joan Lorcha, of Dakong Napo Fisherfolk Association, shared his own experiences in operating a CFLC with his fellow participants during the trip. Lorcha said he was amazed by the Norwegian cages found at the Nasipit Mariculture Park and the CFLC operation itself. He thanked the BFAR, PFO-ADS for the opportunity and learnings they have acquired from the activity.

Esperanza Municipal Agriculturist Jose Zaldy Manug, also expressed his gratitude to BFAR, PFO-ADS and to everyone who organized the activity as Esperanza is a recipient of a village-type fish landing center under the SAAD Program.

Councilor Joseph Aguilar, Chairperson of the SB Committee on Agriculture, assured that the municipal ordinance regulating the number of fish cages in Lake Nato will be strengthened and strictly imposed.

OIC-Provincial Fishery Officer Bimbo C. Lagare, likewise assured that the Bureau will provide technical assistance to all fisheries endeavors in the province.

Source: DA-BFAR Caraga PFO Agusan del Sur