THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AQUASILVICULTURE PROGRAM: PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE  

Dr. Rosie S. Abalos *, Dr. Shella C. Parreno, Dr. Emmanuel Federico Capinpin Jr.,
Mr. Geronimo R. Rosario and Mr. Raul V. Dela Pena
 
Pangasinan State University-Binmaley Campus
Binmaley, Pangasinan
2417 PHILIPPINES
rosie_abalos@yahoo.com

The Philippine National Aquasilviculture Program is a collaborative project under the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and participated by 62  State Universities and Colleges  (SUCs) in the Philippines.

This program comprised of three different projects namely, (a) Mangrove Resource Rehabilitation, (b) Community-Based Multi-Species Hatchery and (c) Aquasilviculture. The main objective of this program is to provide additional livelihood and as a source of income to the coastal community/fisherfolks through the protection and rehabilitation of mangrove resources, natural stock enhancement,  and mangrove-friendly aquaculture.

For the mangrove resource rehabilitation, an area of 56 hectares was planted with a total of 183,300 mangrove propagules. This is located in 5 coastal municipalities consisting of 25 barangays.  Prior the planting, identified fisherfolks and community residents were trained in the planting procedures. After six months, majority of the rehabilitated areas demonstrated a high survival rate of about 90-95% and are in good condition.

In the Community-Based Multi-Species Hatchery, the Lying-in Hatchery/Nursery Concept was adopted. Two (2) collaborators were identified, one conducted the  hatchery/nursery of Abalone and one for the spawning and nursery of Blue Crab. The lying-in concept has addressed  both resource management and economic needs.  This contributed to the enhancement of depleted abalone and blue crab stocks  and  has improved  the people's ecological knowledge.

For the Aquasilviculture project ,  16 individuals participated in the establishment of aquasilvi farm.  Some stocked grouper and the others stocked mudcrab.  About 2 individuals have sustained the production, while the rest stopped due to some environmental problems.

For the