TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has ramped up its aquaculture support program with the distribution of 895,000 milkfish (bangus) fry to key production facilities in Samar and Northern Samar, aiming to boost fish supply and support local growers.
The fry were transported between March and April 2026 to the Jiabong Aquaculture Production and Technology Center and the Regional Brackishwater Aquaculture Production Center, where these will be raised into fingerlings for eventual stocking in fish cages and ponds across the region.
BFAR-8 said the fry were sourced from government hatcheries, including the Guiuan Marine Fisheries Development Center, Laoang Multi-Species Hatchery, and San Jose Legislated Hatchery, which produced 65,000, 610,000, and 220,000 fry, respectively.
Once matured over one to two months, the fingerlings will be distributed to at least 78 aquaculture operators under the agency’s Stock Now, Pay Later Program.
The scheme allows beneficiaries to pay after harvest, either in cash or by returning a portion of their yield, which can then be redistributed to other fisherfolk.
The initiative is part of BFAR’s broader effort to strengthen aquaculture production in Eastern Visayas by ensuring a steady supply of quality stocking materials while easing financial burden on small-scale operators.
Complementing the program, BFAR-8 is also conducting consultative forums with private stakeholders to increase fry and fingerling production and enhance collaboration between the government and the aquaculture sector.
The agency currently operates nine production stations across the region, serving as sources of quality fish stocks to sustain the growth of the aquaculture industry.
Fishpond and fish cage operators interested in joining the program are encouraged to coordinate with their respective provincial fisheries offices or BFAR’s Fisheries Production and Support Services Division for application details.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
