Alsons Aquaculture Corp. (AAC) is preparing for the development of a 193- hectare tilapia hatchery expansion in Alabel, Sarangani Province, documents submitted to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) showed.
The document showed the project has an indicative estimated cost of P200 million and will add up to 5,000 tons to its annual production.
AAC said in the filing it currently produces 1 billion fish fry per year or around 30 percent of the annual national requirement as it keeps 12,000 spawners of various ages.
The company added in the EMB filing the expansion will allow it to cater to the growing local market demand. It will also help it continue exporting milkfish and other seafood products to global markets including the United States, Canada, Guam, Australia, China and the Middle East.
AAC is seeking government approval for the project as the expansion “can substantially influence water resources and aggravate competition for water usage,” noting that like many other rivers, the Buayan river where the project will source its water needs “is vulnerable to water depletion and competition for water resources.”
“AAC utilizing the Buayan river might increase the demand for water resources in the area, especially during the dry season when the water supply is restricted. The project may necessitate diverting river water to the aquaculture plant, which may influence the river’s water balance, resulting in lower water availability downstream. Additionally, increased water demand may affect other water users in the region, such as farmers or residential homes, resulting in competition for water supplies,” the company said.
Specifically, the company will be extracting 18,200 cubic meters from Buayan river and 24,500 cubic meters from Sarangani Bay daily.
AAC also said it chose the site of the expansion due to its conduciveness for aquaculture ponds as the area is already within an area categorized as an agro-industrial zone; near the national highway; availability of additional parcels of land adjacent to current operational area; and the absence of households and any institutions built in the proposed area.
The filing said AAC wants to pursue the projects in three phases in three years. Pre-construction will take nine months and actual construction, six months.
Major components of the expansion project include 34 grow-out ponds, 17 sabalo ponds, 20 larval ponds, 14 algae ponds and 13 rotifer ponds.
