Published on Sunstar Bacolod
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Municipal Government of E.B. Magalona is initiating steps to increase production of seafood products, mainly blue crabs.

Mayor Marvin Malacon, in a press conference at the municipal hall on Tuesday, said the demand for seafood products has been increasing that they are taking measures to ensure sustainability of supply.

Malacon said the municipal government has been doing aggressive campaign against illegal fishing, adding that they have already penalized numerous violators.

“We have provided all coastal barangays with appropriate fishing gears to ensure that their operations are in compliance with the guidelines provided by law,” he said, adding that they have been implementing regulation in harvesting of blue crabs and other fish products, especially in terms of sizes to catch, also to ensure supply.

E.B. Magalona is considered the province’s major producer of blue crabs.

The locality’s current average production is estimated at about five tons per day, which are mostly are exported to United States.

Malacon said the local government is planning to establish a 200-hectare conservation area in Barangay Tomongtong intended only for blue crab production as part of the efforts to ensure sustainability of production.

Malacon said regulation measures, especially on harvest period, within the conservation area will also be implemented.

“The project will mainly benefit fishing communities in nine coastal barangays of the town,” the said mayor said.

He added that the annual Ugyonan Seafood Festival has also significantly helped in further boosting the industry as it contributed to increasing the demand as well as the market value for fish products in E.B. Magalona.

The festival, now on its second year, is seen to draw thousands of local and foreign tourists.

It provided local fisherfolk the opportunity to earn more, Malacon said.

Themed “Magtililipon, Magkinaon, Seafoods Ipabugal Naton,” this year’s event is scheduled on December 9 to 11.

The three-day event includes activities like blue crab cooking contest featuring “Blue Crab Pasta” and “Pizza Blue Crab.”

The eat-all-you can segment, meanwhile, will showcase various seafood dishes like crab relyeno, crab steam, squid calamares, fried bangus, buttered shrimp, chilli shrimp, crab siomai and talaba, which will be made available at P350 per head.

On top of local visitors, Malacon said they invited some 50 Korean tourists to witness the festivity.

“As the event continues to attract more visitors, we are projecting an increase of 10 to 20 percent in sales this year,” the mayor said.