OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the study is to analyze the current provisions of R.A. 8550 which limit the area
given for aquaculture.

The specific objectives of the study are:

1. To determine the trend in the aquaculture production in the Philippines

2. To determine the experts’ opinion regarding the current situation of aquaculture in the Philippines

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Currently, only 10% of the suitable water surface area of all lakes and rivers are allotted for aquaculture
purposes. There are still no amendments in the sections of the law. With the growing demand for food
and income for the LGU, as well as the fisher folks, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources set a
goal to increase the fish catch coming from the aquaculture. In line with this, the study aims to
understand if there really is a need to increase the use of aquaculture from 40% to 60% considering the
above-mentioned situations.

FINDINGS:
ACCORDING TO TLAII
1.) According to Mr. Antonio S. Mangoba, the Corporate Secretary of TLAII,
aquaculture became known in the Philippines during the 1970s. The interviewee
stated that engaging in the business of aquaculture of a certain kind of fish is very
expensive as it will cost around a million pesos. According to him, one of the best
and efficient ways to do aquaculture is through fish-cage farming since the fishes are
confined in one single area. With this, fishes can be easily monitored, and it will be
easier to determine if there will be a spread of disease among the fishes. Moreover,
he stated that Taal Lake is a fresh water—which is why bacteria is more active. Thus,
the bacteria may spread among the fishes like in tilapia and bangus; however, it was
assured that the fishes that they supply to the market are all healthy since these are
brought in the market alive. This guarantees their freshness.
However, due to the expensiveness of building fish-cages, foreign investors are
investing in the Philippines. One downside of this would that be it cannot be
afforded by many of us, and due to the financial incapability of persons who wish to
conduct aquaculture, the big brother system is encourage. This system pertains to
one where a company or a person would lend a capital to the person/s who wish to
engage in aquaculture, with a stipulation that the profit derived will be divided
between the big brother and the small brother.
 2.) According to Mr. Mangoba, they have no problem regarding the 10% rule
limiting the allowable area on the lake for the use of aquaculture laid down under
RA 8550. This is because they are not affected by this law due to the fact that Taal
Lake was declared as protected area—which means that the DENR has now control
over the rules and regulations that they need to follow. Also, the problem that they
are encountering is not the 10% rule stated in RA 8550, but the lack of support from
government agencies in aquaculture on giving incentives to them. Instead, the
government, as per the interviewee, likes to focus on regulating their every move
and waiting for them to commit mistakes. In addition to that, another problem that
they are facing is the granting of permits from Local Government Units (LGUs) and
Protected Area Development and Management, especially when it is tainted with
political issue.

ACCORDING TO BFAR
1.) According to Ms. Prescilla B. Regaspi, the Chief Officer of the Marine Aquaculture
Section, aquaculture become more and more prevalent in the Philippines as time
passes by—which is why, they really need to provide for the strict implementation of
the rules and regulation under RA 8550 also known as “Fisheries Code.” This is to
prevent the possible detrimental effects of aquaculture that might harm our
environment as there must be always an ecological balance as expressly stated in
our Constitution.
According to her, before a certain municipality, corporation or person/s can
operate aquaculture in a certain area allowed by law, they need to secure from the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) or Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) an Environmental Compliant Certificate that will serve
as proof that the said municipality, corporation or person/s have actually complied
with the proper standards given by the law. There are two types of Environmental
Compliant Certificate: first, the Problematic Environmental Compliant Certificate
which usually applied for by the LGUs or the municipality to the DENR; and, second,
the Project Based Environmental Compliant Certificate which is usually applied for by
certain corporation or person/s. It was also stated that in a study which they
conducted in the 1990s, in order to practice good aquaculture, especially fish-cage
farming, the fish farmer must always regulate the stocking density per cage, and
such must only have 20,000 fishes per cage to avoid fish kill. In addition to this, the
distance of each fish cage must be regulated as they must not be near to each other.
There must also be proper orientation which must be conducted for fish-farmers
before they start aquaculture. Also, BFAR shall annually conduct investment forum
 in order to determine if there is a balance between supply and demand, which is
significant, because aquaculture is an effective way for us to have food security.

2.) She also stated that BFAR only provides technical assistance to Taal Lake. The
government agency which has control over the Taal Lake is the DENR since the
former was declared as protected area, and if the DENR does not want to seek the
assistance of the BFAR, the latter cannot intervene without proper consent from the
DENR. The interviewee stated that the 10% rule—which is that the suitable water
surface area of all lakes and rivers shall be allotted for aquaculture purpose—is not a
limit, but can actually be increased, provided that it is supported by a scientific
study, and that the ecological balance is maintained.
POLICY ROCEMMENDATION
1. CREATION OF A DEPARTMENT/BUREAU
As there are many problems involving aquaculture like degradation of water, there is a need to
strengthen and ensure that every fish farmer is engaging in sustainable aquaculture. There is a
need to create a department which specifically or is focused on the implementation of
sustainable aquaculture.
2. CREATION OF MARKET SUPPORT
There are times when fish farmers have over supply of catch which results to higher input cost
but lower farm gate prices. By creating a market support for fish farmers like providing
projected demand for certain period and providing a farmer’s market would eliminate over
production and increase the income of fish farmers. Furthermore, with over production the
water may also degrade faster than normal and by eliminates such over production will
promote sustainable aquaculture.
3. AMENDING SEC. 51 OF R.A. 8550
The 10% limitation on Sec. 51 of R.A. 8550 should be amended since such provision is subject to
abuse and rent seeking activities. According to BFAR, when election time comes the permit to
operate aquaculture in certain areas increases up to 10% when in fact such areas cannot handle
10%. Such provision should be changed by setting the limit based on the capacity of the area to
be sustainable for aquaculture.