10 D iscussion and Concl usions

The mariculture parks are intended to answer the needs of job generation, food security and environmental resiliency. Priority is given to the marginalized sector, but it is open to all other interested investors big and small. The program initiative allows controlled development of aquaculture within designated zones, with limits on production within the local carrying capacity rather than unplanned aquaculture development which is more difficult to manage and control.

Table 3. Barangay Cagangohan direct beneficiaries of marine park.

Unbalanced resource use and limited capital for investing in cages among small fishers are pressing issues in mariculture park development. While some small-scale fishers are employed in the mariculture parks, some have not been hired, while others lack the capital to invest. To address this concern, the government (BFAR) has recently launched the “rent-to-own” cage project as initial livelihood assistance for displaced sustenance fishers in the areas where mariculture parks are established.

There are problems, however, with trying to bring existing farms inside of the newly established mariculture park as existing producers are resistant to being forced to cooperate with other competing producers and having to conform with the strict management measures and standards of good aquaculture practices. The number of existing farms outside of the established mariculture parks varies according to localities since they were established/operational before the mariculture parks boundaries were allocated by the LGU.
Of the 67 mariculture parks that have been established, few can be considered to be presently operating on a commercial scale; for example, only 10 mariculture parks have more than 50 cages. The other mariculture parks are at various levels of development; some are newly established while others have to be rehabilitated. The establishment and operation of the mariculture parks require significant technical and management input from the Local Government Unit, and BFAR.
Constraints on the success and failures of operations, maintenance, and overall administration of mariculture parks were traced on the following factors:
• Governance and lack of support on the part of
the LGU
• Changes in the LGU administration
• Lack of financial assistance and manpower support on the part of the government
• No interested cooperators/investors in the locality
• Product marketability affecting price of the commodity.
The criteria to assess the overall performance of the mariculture parks in terms of their operational status, production and socioeconomic impact are given below:
• Legal Framework
• Memorandum of Agreement
• Municipal Ordinance
• Environmental Compliance Certificate
• Status of MP
• Management and Operation
• No. of Production Units installed
• No. of Investors/Locators
• Ancillary Services available.
“Risk mapping” is part of the area assessment study.
However, the unpredictable climatic changes that have a direct impact to the mariculture parks has been found to be caused by storm surges, typhoons, flooding and water siltation resulting in destruction of facilities, fish escapes and depletion of the resources causing a big loss to investments.
The mariculture parks if properly managed create an enabling environment wherein aquaculture farmers can operate their farms securely, cost-effectively and sustainably with the integration of support systems vital to the success of investments, such as: technically skilled workforce and service providers; accessible and available sources of inputs, markets, financing, facilities and infrastructure (hatcheries, ice plant and cold storage, pier, laboratories, transport facilities); and responsive governance. The industry support system extends throughout the whole supply value chain.