TACLOBAN CITY– In a milestone for local aquaculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas (BFAR-8) successfully completed the transport of 150 bangus (milkfish) breeders to the Provincial Sea Cage-Based Broodstock Development Project in Barangay Looc, Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte, achieving an impressive 100% survival rate.
In a press statement through its social media account, the BFAR-8 said that the initiative is part of a broader push to increase bangus production and support the region’s aquaculture sector.
The project was carried out in two phases: the first batch of 75 breeders was delivered in December 2024, while the remaining 75 arrived in April 2025.
The breeders were sourced from two of BFAR’s key hatcheries: the Guiuan Marine Fisheries Development Center (GMFDC) in Eastern Samar and the Laoang Multi-Species Hatchery (LMSH) in Northern Samar. These brood stocks had been reared for 5 to 7 years before deployment.
Led by BFAR-8 officer-in-charge Regional Director Dominador Maputol, the project was implemented in partnership with the provincial government of Southern Leyte and its Provincial Agricultural Services Office.
The bangus breeders are expected to yield approximately 115 million fry and 46 million fingerlings annually, directly benefiting around 200 fisherfolk associations, cooperatives, and fish cage operators across Southern Leyte.
BFAR-8 allocated an estimated P2.2 million to P4.5 million to develop and maintain the brood stock. Officials believe that the project will significantly enhance local fisheries production and offer new opportunities for small and medium-scale aquapreneurs.
Looking ahead, BFAR-8 has expressed interest in replicating the project in other provinces within Eastern Visayas, aiming to ensure a sustainable supply of quality fingerlings while uplifting the livelihoods of fisherfolk across the region.
(PRINCESS MANZANARES, LNU STUDENT INTERN)
