The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to launch a $250 million aquaculture infrastructure project, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The initiative aims to bolster the country’s fish supply and lessen its reliance on imports, particularly for bangus (milkfish) fry.
Agriculture assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa stated the project is part of the department’s larger effort to revitalize the aquaculture sector, given the stagnant output from traditional capture fisheries.
“Our growth in fisheries is now coming from aquaculture — shrimp, tilapia, bangus — because our captured fisheries are hardly moving. That’s the dilemma of the sector,” de Mesa explained during a weekly DA briefing.
He acknowledged the importance of government interventions, like closed fishing seasons that allow natural fish stocks to regenerate. However, he emphasized that long-term solutions depend on strengthening aquaculture.
“One of our priorities is to build up aquaculture infrastructure, especially hatcheries, to reduce our dependence on imported bangus fry,” he said.
The DA has already backed hatchery development in key regions, such as Northern Luzon, through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), which has recently shown strong production.
De Mesa noted the new ADB-supported project seeks to expand these successes nationwide.
The $250 million funding will cover the planning, design, and construction of various aquaculture support facilities, including hatcheries, nurseries, and ponds.
“We’re currently onboarding consultants for the study. We expect implementation to begin by the second quarter of next year,” de Mesa said.
The DA is also focusing on seaweed farming and other aquaculture ventures, with the goal of increasing productivity and income for coastal communities.
