A training on mussel culture, which will help capacitate Bataan as the top mussel producing province in the country, was recently conducted in Balanga City, Bataan.
Titled, “Hands-on Training on Mussel Culture using Longline Method,” the training was organized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 3 (BFAR RO3), in coordination with the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The activity is an offshoot of the training, “Advancement in Mussel Culture: Livelihood Opportunities for Coastal Villagers” held on June 28-30, 2017 in Taytay, Palawan. The training aimed to introduce new techniques and technologies that will address some issues on mussel farming.
Forty-five participants composed of fisherfolk, mussel farmers, and technical staff from the municipal and provincial offices of Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan attended the training.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez, IARRD-PCAARRD Director, highlighted the partnership between PCAARRD and BFAR RO3 in promoting new technologies in aquaculture that would help uplift livelihood in the coastal communities. She also challenged the participants to put their training learnings into action.
Kristine Joy L. Tandang, Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) manager for mussel, gave an overview of the different gaps being addressed by the Mussel ISP and the technologies developed, with emphasis on the potential of Mussel Longline Technology.
Professor Renato C. Diocton, a Project Leader from Samar State University, lectured on transplantation, mussel spat collectors, and mussel longline grow-out culture.
During the hands-on activity, the participants prepared their own mussel longlines. The longlines were then deployed in Barangay Abucay, Bataan and would be managed by local mussel farmers in the area. The BFAR and PCAARRD staff agreed to formulate a training module that will be used by future trainers based on this initiative. BFAR RO3 has given 50 units of 100-m longline, which will be deployed in existing mussel areas in the region.