Fish culture Made Possible in Upland Areas

Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya - Well known for its native handicrafts and upland veggies, this landlocked and mountainous province may soon add fish to its array of indigenous products.
Fish? That’s right.
According to Dr. Jovita Ayson, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office in,Cagayan Valley, Nueva Vizcaya’s topography, and climate - similar to the country’s summer capital, is not a hindrance for the large-scale production of fish.
Ayson said this during the launching of the fish condominium, a component of the `Fish for Upland Dwellers’ project here last March 12. The project is part of the priority thrusts under BFAR Director Malcolm L Sarmiento, Jr.
“This demo project shall help us create income opportunities for fish farmers. It will also enable us to address nutritional needs of our constituents as according to the DOH, upland dwellers are prone to fish protein deficiency,” Ayson said.
This innovative fish culture project entails use of recycled metal drums opened and welded on end to form a chamber where fish can be cultured. One module consists of nine such chambers laid out in horizontal manner and stacked in three tiers with angle bars as frame.
According to project leader Dominador Abalos, the project, stocked with 3,000 African hito fingerlings, can produce approximately 1,000 kilos of fish after 6 months culture period. Projected net income is P50,000 at farm gate price of P110. Feed cost is P40,000, while depreciation cost of the structure is P9,200 per year.
The number of fish stocked per chamber ranges from 300 to 400 pieces. This is to enable the implementors to determine the optimal stocking density of fish in such culture system.
A salient feature of the project is its use of the free-flowing water from mountain streams. Outlets of this free-flowing water can be seen on the roadside when one traverses the Maharlika highway here.
“Unlike other fish culture technologies having high stocking density and limited space, our project does not use energy consuming aerators and water pumps to maintain water quality, thanks to the year-round water from the mountains,” the project leader said.
“Nueva Vizcaya’s mountainous feature makes it very difficult and expensive to construct fishponds, particularly in the highlands. This technology allows us to culture fish in constrained and marginal areas,” he added.
Abalos also said that potential production from the project is almost equal to a 1,000-square meter fishpond, and that the technology can also be applied in urban areas. The cost of the structure can be eliminated by arranging the drums in a cascading manner such that it rests on and follows the sloping contour of the land.
Sta. Fe Mayor Florante Gerdan expressed his support and appreciation of the project during the launching activity which was held in line with the celebration of the 14th Kalainguya Festival and Sta. Fe town fiesta.
To maximize exposure of the technology, BFAR R02 has allocated one similar module for Diadi town this province.