Sagay City is pioneering a lobster spawning project in Negros Island as it initiated the breeding of rare varieties of the crustaceans at the Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) this month.
The Sagay City Environment and Natural Resources Office led the project of breeding two rare lobster varieties at SMR which aims to help replenish lobster supply in Negros.
These varieties are two Spiny Lobster types, which are the Tiger Lobster (Panulirus ornatus) and Live Bamboo Lobster (Panulirus versicolor), they will be bred in underwater cages at the SMR.
SCenro head Mayo Antonio Cueva said that this innovation shows the city government’s pursuit of environmental sustainability while helping the local economy by enhancing rare lobster stock at SMR.
The SMR Office has already initiated the release of three female and two male spawns of bamboo lobster breeders, weighing 1.7 kilograms each, Nov. 24.
On Dec. 20, two more female and male tiger lobster breeder spawns, weighing two kilos each, were also released at the marine reserve.
The lobster breeders were placed in an open-type cage system submerged at sea which allowed them conducive environment for spawning while maintaining their natural habitat.
Cueva also said that they are currently observing the survival rate of the released lobster eggs and they are hopeful for the project’s success in the long run.
For every 50,000 eggs during the post-larval stage, only about two lobsters are expected to survive to maturity, he added in a press release Dec. 28.
Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, who led the initiative, said it “signifies our commitment to preserving marine biodiversity and securing a thriving ecosystem for future Sagaynons.”
He said he hopes that through this program, more economic opportunities and innovations on sustainability would be introduced to SMR and Sagay as a whole.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. has also assured his support for the program; he vowed to convene the SMR Council and hear proposals on fishery innovation and sustainability of the city’s marine reserve.
Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, commended the initiative for its proactive approach in addressing the decline of rare lobster species.
“It aligns with our shared vision of sustainable fisheries and marine conservation, will bolster the lobster population, and also serve as a model for other coastal communities in promoting responsible aquaculture practices,” he added in the press release. ||
