Senate set to approve marine hatcheries bills

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate is expected to approve on third and final reading this week 14 bills creating multi-species marine hatcheries throughout the country to help boost the country’s food supply, Sen. Cynthia Villar said yesterday. 

Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, said aquaculture in the provinces will have the needed boost with the creation of new hatcheries.

“It is not surprising that aquaculture now has an uptrend globally given the dwindling catch from the wild. With the creation of these hatcheries and more in the future, our people are now assured of a source of food,” the senator said. 

After hurdling second reading last week, 14 bills seeking the creation of marine hatcheries in various municipalities in Quezon, Surigao del Sur and Albay will be voted on by the Senate on third reading.

Villar, who sponsored the measures, said marine hatcheries will contribute to the growth and development of the fisheries sector and allied industries in the respective cities and municipalities. 

“This also presents an opportunity for our fisherfolk to undergo training and improve present practices to improve productivity,” she said.

Aquaculture is defined as the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish and shellfish for human consumption or commercial purposes. It is also used to restore threatened and endangered marine species. 

Under the bills, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will construct the hatcheries. Within two years, management will be transferred to the local government concerned after implementation of a training and phasing-in program. 

Villar cited the study of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, saying 20 years ago, 70 percent of fish production came from the ocean and 30 percent from aquaculture.  

At present, fish production is 50 percent wild catch and 50 percent aquaculture.  

“Overfishing is a major concern globally, with experts issuing warnings that if sustainable fishing is not practiced and oceans are not given time to recover, they could become ‘virtual deserts’ by 2050 or barely 33 years from now,” Villar said.