Laguna Government Boosts Local Aquaculture with Tilapia Fingerling Distribution

LAGUNA — The provincial government of Laguna has initiated a program aimed at enhancing food security by boosting the productivity of local fishponds. This move is part of a broader effort to increase the region’s fish yield.

According to Philippines News Agency, the government has begun distributing free tilapia fingerlings to small-scale aquaculturists. This initiative is designed to support these operators in becoming more productive. In December, over 30,000 tilapia fingerlings were distributed to 25 fish pond operators, demonstrating the scale of the program.

The Provincial Agriculturist’s office has plans to sustain this fingerling distribution program throughout the entire year. Additionally, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) is set to release fingerlings into various freshwater lakes and rivers in Laguna. This effort ensures that local fisherfolk have ample fish stocks to catch. The release of fingerlings will occur in diverse water bodies, including Laguna de Bay, the Seven Lakes, and Caliraya Lake. This strategy aims to ensure the growth of high-quality tilapia breeds in these areas.

Tobias expressed the goal of elevating the livelihood of the fishing community. “We aim to help raise the livelihood of the other fishing sectors, so that the time will come when they will no longer be called small fishermen but good and prosperous fishermen because they themselves have the capacity to teach and share,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

The initiative comes at a crucial time as the number of fish pond operators in Laguna has halved by the end of 2023. This decline was attributed to the high cost of feeds and the quality of tilapia seed. In response, the provincial government is planning to conduct techno-demo sessions in fishing and distribute starter packages for alternative fish feed production.

Tobias expressed optimism about the cooperation within the fishing industry, emphasizing the potential for agricultural prosperity in Laguna. “I hope that the cooperation of the members of the fishing industry will continue and be further intensified, so that we can realize that in Laguna, agriculture will flourish,” he stated.