The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday said it aims to increase the number of Philippine provinces engaged in eel farming.
There is a dearth of provinces now involved in eel farming, Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte and Tanay in Rizal, BFAR Director Asis Perez told reporters on the sidelines of the National Eel Forum in Quezon City on Tuesday.
"May nag-start na rin mag-farm sa Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)... We're hoping na tuloy-tuloy na lumaki ito," Perez said.
The Philippines is encouraging local and foreign investors to help develop eel farming in the country.
"We are open to local and foreign supporters who are willing to provide technology... We are trying to encourage partnerships between technology owners and local investors to work together to produce," Perez said.
"We're hoping na mapalaganap natin ang technology ng pag-culture ng eel sa Pilipinas dahil nandito sa atin ang biological resources," he said.
Perez noted that in a year a one-hectare pond can produce about 40 to 50 tons of eel, locally known as igat, which sells for P600 a kilo.
"Before 2011, ang exports sa eel ay $5 million, ngayon we're exporting around $37 million," he said.
According to BFAR, the Philippines is one of the few areas in the world where high-value species of eels such as Anguillids (true eels) and Monopterus (paddy eels) thrive.
"A reason that puts the country at an even better position of becoming a major producer of eel," Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a separate statement Tuesday.
Perez said the forum will also discussed the Eel Commodity Road Map that will ensure an effective development plan.
"We want to be guided how to move forward… We are yet to set appropriate targets," he said.
Fisheries Administrative Order No. 242 will also be discussed in the forum.
In 2012, the government reinstated a ban on the export of elvers or eel fry through FAO 242.
"For the last three years, we have been seriously upholding FAO 242 in order to protect eel population from dropping further," Perez said.
"The effect of the ban, marami ng local and foreign investors who are farming eel," he said.
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/442049/economy/agricultureandmining/bfar-seeks-to-develop-eel-farming