Group pushes aquaculture investments in lakes, dams
AN advocacy group is urging the government to open investments in dams, rivers and lakes for aquaculture as means to boost the country’s food security and provide alternative protein sources amid rising pork and chicken prices.
Tugon Kabuhayan said the country’s bodies of water have great potential for aquaculture production, which is a growing segment of the country’s fisheries sector.
The group pointed out that boosting aquaculture production would provide more supply of cheaper alternative protein sources for pork and chicken.
Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the group said fish accounts for 66 percent of Filipinos’ 57 kilograms (kg) annual per capita protein source.
The group noted that the average prices of tilapia in the market has remained at the P110 per kg to P120 per kg level since 2019 while prices of bangus have increased or declined by an average of P20 per kg.
The group added that this is in contrast with the sudden spike in meat prices, particularly pork that has gone beyond P400 per kg in recent months.
“Bangus and tilapia account for 40 percent of the total protein requirement. They act as stabilizers of prices and an anchor of our food security and animal protein sources,” it said in a virtual news briefing on Monday.
The group urged the government to come up with an overarching policy regarding aquaculture investments in dams, rivers, and lakes as these areas have untapped potential for caged fish production. Some of these areas are the Pantabangan Dam, Lake Mainit, Lake Lanao, and San Roque dam, according to the group.
“The government should create a small ad hoc task force group that would review all regulations and assist investors to secure long-term permits in order to increase our investments in aquaculture,” it said.
The group said the idea of having a mixed-use for dams, lakes and rivers is still quite new in the country and some regulators are yet to see the potential of such ventures as anchor of the country’s food security.
The group disclosed that one of its members Feedmix Specialist Inc. has a pending application before the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for an aquaculture investment in Pantabangan Dam.
The proposal seeks to put up 500 fish cages, which at an average cost of P500,000 would translate to a total investment of at least P250 million. At an average of 50 metric tons (MT) per cage per year production, the 500-fish cage investment would produce an additional 25,000 MT of fish supply, according to the group.
The company’s proposal is being reviewed by a team formed by the NIA. Feedmix Specialist Inc.’s investment proposal has been pending for more than a year now.
The group added that aside from Feedmix Specialist Inc. there are other aquaculture investment proposals that are awaiting government approvals.
“It’s easier to deploy investments in aquaculture compared to poultry and livestock,” it said. “And we do not see reasons for the government to block or reject these proposals except if the target investment area is totally inconsistent with aquaculture,” it added.