Japan boosts aquaculture in Philippines' leading fish production region

The Government of Japan, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched the two-year project Development of a Sustainable Fishery Value Chain in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

BARMM in the Philippines has significant fishery and aquaculture potential. It has recently become the leading region in fish production in the country, contributing over 30 % of the national total. The region features extensive coastal areas, productive waters, and rich marine biodiversity.

This initiative will support small-scale producers through capacity-building activities, promote the cultivation of alternative high-value species and value-adding processes, and enhance the knowledge and skills of the stakeholders involved.

On 10 February, First Secretary and Agriculture Attaché Mr. AKASAKA Hidenori visited project sites in Tawi-Tawi Province to monitor progress and exchange views with the BARMM government, local government units (LGUs), and the beneficiaries.

Finally, Mr. Akasaka visited Barangay Karaha in Panglima Sugala, where various hatcheries are planned, including sea cucumber, algae, and abalone hatcheries, among others. He also visited the freshwater hatchery owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in Bongao to review its rehabilitation progress.

The First Secretary "highlighted the role of effective and sustainable marine resource management in enhancing food security, supporting livelihoods, and building resilience within the community and the region," according to a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines.