BFAR awards post-harvest equipment to Batanes fisherfolk

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) —  To support and empower coastal communities, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Cagayan Valley Region has provided post-harvest equipment to registered fisherfolk in Basco, Batanes.

Ritchie Rivera, BFAR’s provincial fisheries officer, said that the initiative acknowledges the vital role of full-time fishers and fish vendors in ensuring food security and sustaining the local economy.

Each beneficiary received a set of post-harvest tools, including a fish crate, cooler, and digital weighing scale—key equipment designed to improve the handling, storage, and marketing of fish products.

“This support aims to enhance the daily operations of our fisherfolk by helping them maintain the quality of their catch and improve their income through more efficient sales,” Rivera said.

He emphasized that the provision of these tools is part of BFAR’s broader strategy to ensure the resilience, sustainability, and profitability of Basco’s fishing industry.

In a parallel initiative aimed at increasing fish supply during the lean fishing months, BFAR, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment, has also launched a tilapia culture project in Raele, Itbayat.

The project involves stocking 2,000 tilapia fingerlings in a 10x5x2-meter concrete tank. The fingerlings, produced at the municipal tilapia hatchery, will be raised with full feed support from pre-starter to finisher stages, covering two production cycles.

Rivera said the first harvest is expected by September 2025, with a projected yield of 400 to 450 kilograms of tilapia. This initiative aims to provide a stable and sustainable fish source for the province, particularly when marine catch is low.

“These combined efforts reflect our commitment to promoting food security, advancing sustainable fisheries, and improving the livelihoods of fisherfolk and their families across Batanes,” Rivera added. (OTB/PIA Region 2) 

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Tags: Batanes, BFAR
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