USSEC – Southeast Asia (SEA) conducted the 2018 USSEC Offshore Cage Implementation Assessment and Training (OCIAT) in Manila and Davao, Philippines on July 12 – 15. The objective of the OCIAT is to gather information about why the country does not have an offshore cage aquaculture industry, to determine what factors are holding back the promotion and/or development of large-scale cage farming in the Philippines, and to decide what initiatives are needed so the Philippines can adopt offshore marine fish culture.
Levy Loreto L. Manalac, USSEC Philippines Technical Manager-Aquaculture, together with Hsiang Pin Lan, USSEC Marine Fish Aquaculture Specialist, and Patrick White, Aquaculture Consultant from AKVAPLAN-Niva, led the assessment and training.
In September 2018, USSEC will conduct the summary meeting/seminar and will provide recommendations for the establishment of offshore marine fish cage farming.
During these visits, Mr. White presented the USSEC Offshore Cage Farming and Cage Farm Planning & Management plan to officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Inland Fisheries Aquaculture Division in Quezon City; fish cage operators and investors; technicians; LGU of Malalag, Provincial Government of Davao Occidental; staff of different BFAR offices in Province of Davao, LGU of Panabo, Davao; and Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental.
All participants understand the need for better planning and management such as zoning; the use of high quality feeds; and best management practices for success, profitability, and sustainable and long-term marine fish cage farming.