At least 10,000 “bangus” (milkfish) fingerlings were released in a fish cage at the Albay Gulf operated by the City Agriculture Office (CAO) at a cove in Sitio Anonang, Barangay Homapon here Friday.

Sheila Nas, CAO chief, said in an interview the fingerlings were acquired through a PHP1.2 million grant released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to their office.

She said the cage would be managed by the Homapon Fisher Folks Association (HFFA) as part of its livelihood program.

“The 16×16-meter cage is fenced with net, water drums, and GI pipes that would protect the fingerlings from existing predators at the cove,” Nas said.

She also said the CAO has conducted seminars for the HFFA members on feeding the brackish-born fish for them to grow faster.

Nas said the cage would be guarded and the HFFA caretakers would closely monitor the condition of the milkfish to minimize their mortality until they are harvested after three months.

“The project is part of the Aqua-Culture Development Program (ACDP) of the CAO to promote cultured fish care in order to augment the supply for fish consumption and give additional income to fisher folks in these communities,” she noted.

Nas said the Homapon cove is ideal for culturing oysters, mussels (tahong), seaweeds, andA fish such as “lapu-lapu” and “moblad”, aside from milkfish.

Edna Adille, HFFA president, thanked CAO and BFAR for giving them the opportunity to grow milkfish, noting that this project is very beneficial as it could uplift the livelihood of the association’s members.

She said the 32 HFFA members would come up with a schedule for monitoring and feeding the fish.

Adille said proceeds from the harvest would be used to buy more bangus fingerlings to keep the project rolling. (PNA)