Fisheries biggest gainer in terms of growth in '07

THE government is pushing for environment-friendly system such as mariculture park to help sustain the growth of the fisheries sector this year.

Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) indicated that the fisheries sector consistently is the biggest gainer in terms of growth last year.

DA Secretary Arthur Yap in a statement said they are targeting 5.34 million metric tons (MT) this year or a 10 percent increase from the 4.85 million MT of fisheries production in 2006.

Yap further said that expansion programs will be towards seaweed farming, farming of high value species such as abalone, sea urchins and sea cucumbers, and P. vannamei or Pacific white shrimp.

There will also be more aggressive enforcement of anti-poaching and illegal fishing and sustained resource conservation efforts.