The local government of Dalaguete in Cebu province is keen on adopting a Japanese technology in fisheries and aquaculture to boost fish production.

Dalaguete Mayor  Ronald Allan Cesante stressed that there is a need to boost fish production — both sea and freshwater sources — to meet the growing demand, particular within Cebu province.

He disclosed that the 2020 data showed Cebu province's market demand for fish products stand at 200,000 metric tons annually. Cebu currently is producing only 38,000 to 40,000 metric tons per year.

The new Japanese technology adopts seawater fish can be cultured in a freshwater environment through several processes known in Japan as " third water" technology.

Given the unpredictable fish production in seawater attributed to climate change, Cesante stressed the crucial need to establish a robust aquaculture facility within the town.

"This facility is anticipated to not only yield freshwater fish but also a diverse array of wild seawater fish, providing a more stable and sustainable source," Cesante said.

"I was surprised to see a land-based aquaculture facility in the mountains. We are a similar area like in Mantalongon, Dalaguete, so this will be a good reference for us," he added.

Mantalogon is the second-largest barangay in Dalaguete, is known as the vegetable basket of Cebu.

Hiroyuki Hirano, the president of the Okayama University of Science and Professors Toshimasa Yamamoto and Akihiro Orita, faculty members of Okayama University of Science Department of Engineering introduced to the Cebu delegation the successful implementation of land-based aquaculture using freshwater in fish tanks situated in the mountains and other inland areas of Japan, Cambodia and Mongolia.

Aside from Cesante, the Cebu delegation were composed of provincial agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragene, Engr. Expedizitas Lenares, Engr. Jireh Burda, Joanna Cesante, Jose Manuel Canton, and sisters Teresa and Myriam Canton.