World Aquacluture Magazine - September 2020

WWW.WA S.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEP TEMBER 2020 39 FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries (2008) support aquaculture in areas that need economic development or increased supply of protein that other types of agriculture or development are not able to provide. With the current social and economic situation in the Philippines, the quality of life of underprivileged people is worsening. Five of the nine basic sectors that have a high incidence of poverty include farmers and fishermen (PSA 2019). Thus, programs like BASIL gives people hope. Despite these promises, benefits and risks should still be weighed. Biodiversity and other aquatic ecosystems resources should be preserved for future generations. To balance sustainable socioeconomic development with ecological balance, the Philippines is actively striving to protect and conserve wildlife resources through legislation such as Republic Act No. 9147 or theWildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and the National Biosafety Framework. The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1988 (Republic Act No. 8550) and Department of Agriculture Fish and Game Administrative Order No. 06 has tasked DA through the BFAR to control, monitor and quarantine foreign aquatic species that will be introduced in Philippine waters. In Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8550, foreign aquatic plants, crustaceans, finfish or mollusks must not be introduced to Philippine waters. The Department may authorize the introduction if it is based primarily on scientific studies, with biosafety standards laid down in existing legislation, and with a sound biological, ecological and economic rationale. The BFAR-National Inland Fisheries Technology Center also conducts research and rehabilitation measures for indigenous species like the broadhead catfish Clarias macrocephalus , climbing perch Anabas testudineus , silver perch Leiopotherapon plumbeus , and striped snakehead Ophicephalus striatus (Palma 2016). Various local government units have also adopted and synthesized programs to protect and conserve local water resources. For example, in Abra Province, the Save the President’s Fish Project aimed to prohibit the catching of several “ludong” (mullet) species – Cestraeus plicatilis , Cestraeus oxyrhynchus, and Cestraeus goldiei – from the Abra River. The President’s fish is known to be one of the most expensive fishes because of its rarity. In Lake Sebu, Municipal ordinance No. 01, S. 1994 sets guidelines for the establishment of fish cages in the lake and fishing prohibition in fish sanctuaries. The local government also conducts a semi-annual clean-up drive for collection of floating debris from fish pens and for removal of water hyacinth and other vegetation that have become pests along the lake shore. The DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines has launched a comprehensive research program for Lake Lanao that tackles biological, chemical, physical, political and socioeconomic impacts in the lake to reverse the negative effects of pollution and unsustainable human practices and activities (Jacob 2018). Perspectives Despite criticism from activists and the scientific community, the government must be credited for their efforts to alleviate poverty. There is a need to revitalize the aquaculture industry to improve the quality of life, especially of those whose livelihood depends on this industry. For the Philippines to have a sound ecological, biological and environmental justification of alien invasive species introduction, a specific regulatory body should be established to strictly regulate aquaculture and ensure good farming practices in each lake, river and reservoir. Proper management protocols should be developed alongside established programs and policies in the prevention, management and control and conservation for sustainable use of ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 4 0 ) TABLE 3. The BASIL program’s 5-year plan for 2018–2022 (BFAR 2017). Name Area (ha) Location (Surrounding provinces) No. of fingerlings Grand total targeted to release no. of fingerlings in 2018 (2018–2022) Lanao Lake 34,700 Marawi City, Lanao del Sur 4,000,000 20,000,000 Lake Mainit 17, 300 Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte 3,000,000 15,000,000 Buluan Lake 6,500 Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao 1,200,000 6,000,000 Naujan Lake 11,000 Mindoro Oriental 2,200,000 11,000,000 Lake Sebu 964 South Cotabato 64,000 320,000 Taal Lake 23,400 Batangas 2,000,000 10,000,000 Laguna Lake 90,000 Laguna and Rizal 5,200,000 26,000,000 Cagayan River Basin 25,000,000 Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, and Cagayan 25,000,000 125,000,000 Abra River System 512,500 Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province and Benguet 500,000 2,500,000 Agusan River Basin 1,000,000 Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur, 1,100,000 5,500,000 and Agusan del Norte, and Butuan Bicol River Basin 377,100 Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte 400,000 2,000,000 Pampanga River 974,900 Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan 1,000,000 5,000,000 Mindanao River Basin 2,316,900 Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, 2,200,000 11,000,000 Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato TOTAL 25.364 M 126.82 M