The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has approved the release of PHP15 million for the establishment of a fish hatchery in Nalbo village in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, as part of efforts to boost food security in the province.

Provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay confirmed this on Monday following an ocular inspection at the proposed project site located at the provincial government-owned and managed Nalbo fish farm.

“The fish hatchery will be used exclusively for malaga (rabbit fish) and bangus (milkfish),” said Lagmay, citing that these are both high-value fish species suited for aquaculture.

Lagmay said they are eyeing a 200-square meter lot at the Nalbo fish farm for the project.

Based on the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority on fish production survey, the overall fisheries production in llocos Region decreased by 5.83 percent in the second quarter of this year as compared to the same quarter of 2019, from 38,173 metric tons to 35,947 metric tons this year.

llocos Norte and llocos Sur recorded higher output while La Union and Pangasinan registered lower production.

The province of llocos Norte, which had a 6.06-percent share of the total fisheries production of the region, recorded higher fisheries production in the second quarter of this year compared with its level a year ago.

From 1,293 metric tons production, it went up to 2,176 metric tons due to the higher output of both municipal and aquaculture sub-sectors. (PNA)