TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) recently unveiled the province's first Municipal Tilapia Hatchery of Itbayat, Batanes which is expected to boost the livelihood of Ivatan fishers. 

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that with the establishment of the tilapia hatchery, fish farmers in the island province can now acquire fingerlings locally, eliminating the need for risky travels to mainland provinces of Region 2 for their fish farm needs.

"This project aligns with the department’s goal to make agriculture and fisheries a viable investment option,” the secretary said.

Situated in Barangay Reale, where the sole freshwater lake suitable for aquaculture is located, the facility, equipped with breeding, nursery, treatment ponds, and water system, represents a significant step towards meeting the province's tilapia fingerling supply needs.

The hatchery’s projected yearly production of 300-500 thousand tilapia fingerlings is set to reshape local fish farming, representing a significant advancement in the province’s journey towards self-sufficiency in tilapia fingerling production.

Batanes has six fish farming associations sourcing supplies from Isabela and Cagayan, with transportation costs incurred through long land and air travel leading to 30-50% fingerling mortality upon arrival in the province.

Ritchie A. Rivera, provincial fishery officer, said that with the introduction of tilapia farming in the island and the establishment of the hatchery, more residents now embrace tilapia tank farming. 

“This becomes a promising strategy for addressing fish supply shortages during the lean season. This will lead to the construction of additional tanks as more Ivatans are getting interested in this livelihood,” Rivera said. 

To guarantee adequate government support for even the most remote fishing communities like those in Itbayat, the DA-BFAR runs a Provincial Fishery Satellite Office in Barangay San Rafael, overseeing and managing fisheries-related activities in the province.

Furthermore, DA-BFAR also conducted fisherfolk fora and distributed fish cages and fishing gear to Itbayat's fisherfolk during the inauguration of the hatchery, highlighting the government's commitment to empowering local communities and fostering sustainable economic growth. (OTB/MJPT with reports from DA-BFAR)