Igang Marine Station - Guimaras island
The age-old Chinese proverb “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. -- But I can't help but feel that there is something wrong with this proverb.
As human populations continue to boom at a rate of over 100 million people per year, the need for increased food productions stands a foremost concern for sustaining our future’s growing appetite. I have already been to islands that suffer from the lack of fishing stocks, and to stand on the shores and look out at the vast ocean and see the boats come home empty is a shocking experience. It is that the local islands people that will go without this part of their staple diet, as it seems to lead to an ever increasing reliance on the pig as the gap fill which then leads to increasing heart disease within the island communities. But I digress as we want to learn more on our trip to the Igang Marine Station (IMS) of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) and what they are doing to help solve fish stock problems for the islands of the Philippines.
Experts say that over half the world’s wild caught fisheries are fully exploited, meaning that fish are being caught at the maximum rate to simply keep the population stable. Even more, over thirty percent of fisheries are overexploited, meaning that fish are being caught at a faster rate than they can reproduce, leading to the demise of the population and potentially the demise of the species itself. In a world of rapidly evolving technological advancements, Aquaculture, otherwise known as “fish farming,” has been on the rise over the past few decades to meet the soaring demand for seafood.
Sustainable aquaculture
“ In an effort to move towards a sustainable future, it will take not only innovative thinking but also global knowledge to make effective decisions. Aquaculture is a growing, and highly demanded industry. As the demand continues to grow, sustainability must remain a top priority and important aspect of future production. While improved technology is a big step in the right direction, it also requires the demand of the consumer. We are a part of the solution, and we can demand for a sustainable future.”
Jean-Michel Cousteau - President, Ocean Futures Society
We where lucky to do the boat trip out and around The Igang Marine Station (IMS) of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) is located in the southwest coast of Guimaras Island. It is a marine research center amidst Panay Gulf, about 10 minutes away from Alubihod Beach.
IMS is composed of four islets and clusters of floating fish cages interconnected by pontoon foot bridges. The station maintains captive brood stock of various commercially important species to provide eggs for research and production runs. To support research and training activities, the station has an office, staff quarters, and fully-furnished guest house for visitors.
As human populations continue to boom at a rate of over 100 million people per year, the need for increased food productions stands a foremost concern for sustaining our future’s growing appetite. I have already been to islands that suffer from the lack of fishing stocks, and to stand on the shores and look out at the vast ocean and see the boats come home empty is a shocking experience. It is that the local islands people that will go without this part of their staple diet, as it seems to lead to an ever increasing reliance on the pig as the gap fill which then leads to increasing heart disease within the island communities. But I digress as we want to learn more on our trip to the Igang Marine Station (IMS) of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) and what they are doing to help solve fish stock problems for the islands of the Philippines.
Experts say that over half the world’s wild caught fisheries are fully exploited, meaning that fish are being caught at the maximum rate to simply keep the population stable. Even more, over thirty percent of fisheries are overexploited, meaning that fish are being caught at a faster rate than they can reproduce, leading to the demise of the population and potentially the demise of the species itself. In a world of rapidly evolving technological advancements, Aquaculture, otherwise known as “fish farming,” has been on the rise over the past few decades to meet the soaring demand for seafood.
Sustainable aquaculture
“ In an effort to move towards a sustainable future, it will take not only innovative thinking but also global knowledge to make effective decisions. Aquaculture is a growing, and highly demanded industry. As the demand continues to grow, sustainability must remain a top priority and important aspect of future production. While improved technology is a big step in the right direction, it also requires the demand of the consumer. We are a part of the solution, and we can demand for a sustainable future.”
Jean-Michel Cousteau - President, Ocean Futures Society
We where lucky to do the boat trip out and around The Igang Marine Station (IMS) of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) is located in the southwest coast of Guimaras Island. It is a marine research center amidst Panay Gulf, about 10 minutes away from Alubihod Beach.
IMS is composed of four islets and clusters of floating fish cages interconnected by pontoon foot bridges. The station maintains captive brood stock of various commercially important species to provide eggs for research and production runs. To support research and training activities, the station has an office, staff quarters, and fully-furnished guest house for visitors.
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| A Big old Daddy Grouper |
To be continued...
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