Marcos moves to ensure stable fish supply
Aquaculture production for the December -to-February period was traditionally geared toward addressing that gap.
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Aquaculture production for the December -to-February period was traditionally geared toward addressing that gap.
Agriculture stakeholders are banking on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s consistent and decisive leadership to revitalize the food sector — especially the fisheries sub-sector since the low -stock season is now in place.
Marcos recently approved the renewed importation of processed animal proteins, or PAPs, used as fish feeds through the issuance of Memorandum Circular 34, Series of 2022.
The order ensures the stable supply of fish during the closed season from November to January, during which sea-catch supply is reduced by about 15,000 metric tons monthly.
Subsequently, Marcos instructed BAI to prescribe guidelines on the importation of PAPs from African Swine Fever-affected countries as an alternative source of the commodity and to prevent further negative impacts on the aquaculture sector.
Animal protein
Producers had been using rendered animal protein in addition to fish meal and soybean meal to respond to the growth of aquaculture and the corresponding increase in the requirement for aquaculture feeds.
According to Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Asis Perez, the president's decision demonstrates that his leadership is based on a "decisive and science-based approach."
"With the final publication of the said guidelines, we send our thanks again to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry, President Bongbong Marcos, and all the stakeholders in the aquaculture industry for the support rendered for renewed importation of PAPs," Perez said.
"Aquaculture production for the December-to-February period was traditionally geared toward addressing that gap. It is of utmost importance that a lack of raw materials will not further disrupt aquaculture production," he added.
In 2019, the DA banned importing pork and pork products, including PAPs, from ASF-affected countries. The industry then petitioned the DA to reconsider the exclusion of PAPs from the list of banned products.
Resolution
The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council issued a resolution endorsing the aquaculture industry's request and requesting the Bureau of Animal Industry to immediately address the dwindling supply of raw materials for aquaculture production.
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