Giant Clams hatchery to be inaugurated

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Governor-Bohol Environment Management Office (GO-BEMO) in coordination with the member agencies of the Marine Protected Area Provincial Technical Working Group (MPA PTWG) will bless and inaugurate the Giant Clams Hatchery Facility at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Multi-Species Hatchery (BFAR-MSH) in Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol on Tuesday.

The activity will start with a Holy Mass at 8:30 A.M. and to be followed by a blessing and then the inauguration program at 10:00 a.m.

In the program, the Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana will give his keynote speech and Gov. Edgar M. Chatto will deliver his inspirational message while Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes; Director Alfeo G. Piloton, BFAR 7; and Dr. Reguncivilla A. Pobar, Bohol Island State University (BISU) president will give their messages.

Liza M. Quirog, chief of staff/MPA PTWG chairperson will state the statement of purpose after Barangay Captain Jimmy Dabalos of Sinandigan would give his welcome message.

Villa I. Pelindingue, Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Unit Head said the Giant Clams Hatchery Facility is for spawning of the giant clams which are now seeded at the 10 MPAs at 20 clams each since February 20, 2013 namely: Balicasag, Panglao; Bingag, Dauis; Basdio, Guindulman; Badiang, Anda; Lumayag MPA, Baybayon, Mabini; Sinandigan, Ubay; Gaus, Carlos P. Garcia; Cataban, Talibon; Hambungan, Inabanga, and Majingpit, Bonbon, Clarin.

The clam is hermaphrodite in nature which has the capacity to produce egg and sperm cells.

Pelindingue explained that the clams at the MPAs must be pulled-out for spawning at the hatchery facility wherein the egg and sperm cells from the other clams will be fertilized which could hardly happen at the MPAs because the egg and sperm cells would be eaten by fishes at the surrounding.

She said the PGBh had established the MPA Management Council tasked to manage the MPAs as the BEMO has been conducted an annual underwater bio-physical assessment since 2015.

The CRM unit head bared that six giant clams had already pulled-out from Sinandigan MPA and put at the hatchery for spawning.

She underscored the importance of clam in the quest of the PGBh to increase the marine resources because it provides food and shelter for other marine organisms, helps to enhance water visibility because it has the ability to filter water, helps to build and shape reef, attracts more fishes because it produces foods for fishes and helps to enhance marine bio-diversity.

Gov. Chatto said this endeavor is one of the PGBh priority projects to ensure sustainable management of MPAs in line with the goal of reducing poverty incidence and ensuring food security to the Boholano communities through collective efforts in the protection and conservation of our marine environment.

Jovencia Ganub, head-BEMO said the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol headed by Vice Governor Dionisio D. Balite will also grace the affair. (Atoy Cosap)

CLAMS HATCHERY FACILITY. The P2M worth of Giant Clams Hatchery Facility at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Multi-Species Hatchery (BFAR MSH) in Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol will be blessed and inaugurated on Tuesday. This facility serves as the spawning ground of giant clams which have been seeded at the 10 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the different towns of Bohol.                                                                Foto: VILLA I. PELINDINGUE, CRM Unit Head