Some 70 marginalized fisherfolk here were identified as beneficiaries of the Shellfish Livelihood
Project of the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
The livelihood project aims to help small-scale fisherfolk to have an alternative income source amid
the closed fishing season.
In partnership with the National Fisheries Development Center, the BFAR conducted a two-day
training and seminar to the shellfish beneficiaries, who were particularly taught on how to grow
oysters through the Shellfish Raft Culture and what to do to recover after a natural calamity such as
red tide.
BFAR Capiz Information Officer Lorelyn Offala said they introduced the shellfish raft because of the
request of Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas, noting the fact that most shellfish growers in the city are
using old rubber tires for shellfish farming.
“Gin-introduce namon ang new method kay tires ila ginagamit which are prohibited kay ga-extract ini
sang toxic gasses kag para mag amat-amat man reduce ang saltation level caused by staking method
(We have introduced the new method because they are using tires which are prohibited as they
extract toxic gasses and also to gradually reduce the saltation level caused by staking method),” Offala
stated.
Aside from undergoing training, each beneficiary will receive a two-unit 5×5 meter shellfish raft,
including plastic drums, bamboo poles, PE rope, nylon, and plastic binders as start-up materials for
their rafts.
Further, the BFAR Capiz also conducted Shellfish Grow-Out and Post Harvest Training on the process
of making Oyster Crackers, Oyster Kropek, Smoke Oyster, and Oyster Sauce to 110 participants as part
of their shellfish value adding methods.
Offala emphasized that the value-adding method is an alternative livelihood for the shellfish growers
who were not able to sell out their fresh shellfish products.
Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the BFAR and Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas because the
said intervention will be an alternative income for them.
“Interested gid ako sa shellfish value adding method, especially sa processing of oyster sauce kay in
case wala na sang red tide sa syudad, mas barato ini siya compared sa mga readily made sa mall (I am
very interested into the shellfish value adding method, especially in the processing of oyster sauce
because when there is no longer occurrence of red tide in Roxas City, it will be cheaper than those
readily made in the mall),” one of the beneficiaries said. (PIA Capiz)
