New fish hatchery to boost tilapia farming in Buguey

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The fisheries industry in Buguey, Cagayan recently had a major boost with the soft opening of the fish hatchery in the town.

Municipal Agriculturist Danilo Rumpon said that at present fish farmers in the area still have to order tilapia fingerlings from as far as Isabela.

“The availability of fingerlings in our area can improve productivity and profitability of fish farmers by way of reduced transport costs and higher survival rate,” Rumpon stressed.

Buguey, also known as a Crab Capital, is one of the major aquaculture areas in Region 02. The town has extensive areas of brackishwater fishponds and also a vibrant fish cage industry within the Buguey lagoon.

Species cultured are siganids, bangus, tilapia, talakitok, and snapper. Also present are oyster, which thrive naturally within the lagoon.

Rumpon said that fingerlings are given free at the moment. “We are still on the initial stages. The hatchery is not yet fully operational as we are still in the process of procuring needed equipment,” Rumpon said, adding that the facility is a pet project of Mayor Lloyd Antiporda.

Later, Rumpon said that fingerlings will be sold and only part of total order will be subsidized.

The facility, located near the municipal town hall, has several covered and uncovered circular and rectangular tanks, storage room and staff house.

Initially funded under the BottomUp Budgeting system in 2016 with R1.75 million from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Region 2 and Php 0.25 million equity from the LGU, the Municipal Agriculturist said that the LGU has continuously made investments in the project to enable it to fully operate.

Aside from the present saline tolerant tilapia, the MA said that they will go into mudcrab hatchery later. In that case, the hatchery will become the very first mudcrab hatchery in Region 02.

BFAR RO2 RD Dr. Nelson Bien lauded this development saying that “it aligns with present thrust of the Department to increase fisheries production.” (max prudencio BFAR RO2)

FISH HATCHERY IN BUGUEY – Municipal Agriculturist Danilo Rumpon is shown inspecting the municipal fish hatchery that was launched recently in Buguey, Cagayan. The facility will benefit a lot of fish farmers, especially those who are culturing tilapia. They will have a ready source of fingerlings and they don’t have to spend money sourcing their requirements as far as Nueva Vizcaya.