Caulerpa cultivation seen to boost seaweeds industry in Ilocos Region
BANI, Pangasinan – Fisher folks stand to benefit much once this pilot test of culture farming becomes successful.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 1 said it is seeking to determine whether caulerpa, a type of seaweed, can be cultured, probably to produce commercial quantities.
The pilot test is being done in fishpond and sea-based areas in Brgys. Dacap Sur and Aporao. Experts are also attempting to determine where seaweed would be best cultured.
Municipal fishery technician Victoria Bilog said fisher-folk associations will be trained if the result is successful as this would mean additional livelihood income.
She said the project which is an initiative of the Local Government Unit through the Municipal Agriculture Office will also support the thriving seaweeds industry of Ilocos Region and add income for farmers and the townspeople of Bani, Pangasinan.

The caulerpa farming is one of the proposed projects of the LGU to be funded from their Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) 2021 prize.
Bilog is optimistic that with the outcome of cultivating caulerpa, people in Bani can benefit much from the idea since Bani has large fishpond areas.
Earlier, the BFAR RFO1 technical personnel conducted site validation to determine the feasibility of the project.