Phase 2 of mud crab project in Northern Samar

AQD and its partners Action for Community Empowerment (ACE) Association Inc. and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) made plans for the phase 2 of the Institutional capacity development for sustainable aquaculture (ICDSA) project in Northern Samar entitled Mariculture enterprise development project. The meeting was conducted May 27-29 in Catarman, Northern Samar.

The partners also assessed the progress of the nursery and grow-out (see photo on AQD's homepage) of the first phase - Enhancing adoption of mud crab production technologies (nursery, grow-out, and fattening). The target survival rate of 40% at the nursery was met at the three sites. Lao-ang, Pambujan, and Rosario had 46%, 70.18%, and 54% survival rate respectively.

Phase 1 activities for the remaining months of this year and preparation of an illustrated manual were also discussed during the meeting.

Other than the project meeting, AQD scientists Dr. Mae Catacutan and Dr. Emilia Quinitio conducted a training entitled AquaFeed: feed formulation and preparation at Pambujan as requested by its local government and pond operators. The training is part of a season-long training course.

The project is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and the Community Agricultural Technologies Project (CATP).

Lastly, AQD specialist Ms. Didi Baticados also joined the group to gather data about her Government of Japan-Trust Fund study on the socioeconomic aspects of mud crab culture while AQD Devcom section head Ms. Milagros Castaños and information assistant Mr. Rommel Guarin documented the team’s activities.