The country's bangus production is seen increasing this year with the support of government to increase the efficiency and production capacity of state-run hatcheries.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Eduardo Gongona said the country is on the right track to sustain its growth in bangus production amid active stakeholders’ participation and increased efficiency and production capacity of government hatcheries following rehabilitation.

BFAR is also banking on the operations of Satellite Community-Based Larval Rearing Facilities (SCBLRF) across the country, which was established through the Bangus Fry Sufficiency Program.

"In 2020, we are yet at 95.8 percent but our goal is 100 percent food fish sufficiency through 100 percent local production. The increase in production recorded for any commodity that we are developing, for instance, bangus, only shows that we are on the right track with our efforts,” Gongona said.

The country's bangus production has seen a steady increase this year. For the first half of 2021, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show that the country’s bangus production increased by 8.3 percent, recording a total volume of 184,926.7 metric tons (MT) by the end of June 2021, higher compared to last year’s volume of 170,755 MT recorded on the same period.

Among the regions, Region 12 marked the highest growth rate of 116 percent, followed by the National Capital Region with 99.2 percent and then by Region 7 with 40.6 percent. The top-performing regions in terms of production are the Central Luzon with 55,740.14 MT (30.14 percent), followed by the Ilocos Region with 47,552.54 MT (25.71 percent) and the Western Visayas with 46,108.95 MT (24.16 percent).

This increase in production, however, is not solely recorded on bangus sold in marketable size. As of the third quarter of 2021, the industry has also recorded a 40.8 percent increase in production of bangus fry for aquaculture. From 771 million pieces of fry produced on said period last year, this increased to 1.085 billion bangus fry this year.

BFAR Technology Outreach Stations as well as the established SCBLRF were able to double the country's fry production, recording 120.89 percent increase from 15.32 million fry produced last year to 33.84 million fry this year.

Meanwhile, private hatchery production also increased by 53.22 percent from 607 million fry as reported last year to 930.60 million fry this year.

Aside from establishing satellite hatcheries and SCBLRF nationwide, the Bangus Fry Sufficiency Program also supports broodstock development in regional technology outreach stations.

This year, 14 broodstock cages and additional 2,550 pieces of broodstock are already under procurement. Other activities of the program include the establishment of fry holding facilities in Ilocos Sur; livelihood support to wild fry gatherers; as well as pilot-testing of algal paste in hatcheries in Region 1 and 3 to address issues on the collapse of natural food in hatcheries.

With more sources of fry and fingerlings in the country, BFAR can readily provide stocks to targeted beneficiaries not only as regular livelihood assistance, but also as relief and rehabilitation assistance for those affected by calamities such as the recent Typhoon Maring.