The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it supports the decision of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to reallocate more areas of the country’s largest fresh water lake for aquaculture as this can help stabilize fish prices.
The LLDA earlier this week published a January resolution modifying the allocation of 9,200 hectares of Laguna de Bay devoted to aquaculture, setting aside 53 percent of the area for small fishermen and 47 percent to private corporations.
Prior to the modification, small fishermen were allotted 60 percent of the aquaculture area and 40 percent for private firms.
This effectively reduces the area small fishermen could use for aquaculture by 644 hectares to 4,876 hectares.
“This move by LLDA, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will surely increase the production of fish in Laguna Lake and hopefully maintain the prices of bangus and big head carp, if not lower them a bit,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
DA said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is ready to assist small fishermen who may be adversely affected by the LLDA decision.
Tiu Laurel said as early as January, BFAR has been ordered to check the lake’s water quality and measure its capacity.
DA, citing data from the LLDA, said the Laguna Lake currently has a total area of 90,000 hectares that produces as much as 90,000 tons of fresh water fish a year and provides livelihood to about 13,000 fishermen and remains a major food source for millions of residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
