Southern leyte: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office here, along with its partners, released around 3,000 hatchery-bred sea cucumber juveniles into the coastal waters of Liloan, Southern Leyte. This initiative took place on Monday, with the goal of advancing sustainable aquaculture practices in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the sea cucumber juveniles were developed at the BFAR-Guiuan Marine Fisheries Development Center (GMFDC) in Eastern Samar. They have been placed in four 1×1-meter nursery cages at Tagbak Marine Park in Tabugon village, Liloan. The juveniles will be monitored monthly and are anticipated to reach a marketable size of approximately 100 grams by October 2026, as stated by BFAR Southern Leyte provincial fisheries officer Rowvic Docena.
The project is a collaborative effort involving the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)-Bontoc Campus, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office, and the local government unit (LGU) of Liloan. During the event, Docena emphasized the importance of the sea cucumber release, highlighting BFAR’s dedication to promoting science-based and sustainable fisheries management.
Docena remarked, “BFAR-8 remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that promote responsible fisheries development. We value our collaboration with SLSU, DOST, and LGU Liloan in advancing sustainable aquaculture and protecting our marine ecosystems.”
The release of sea cucumbers is part of the project titled ‘Enhancing Community-Based Sea Cucumber Ranching for Sustainable Development.’ This initiative aims to restore declining sea cucumber populations, reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks, and offer alternative livelihood opportunities for coastal communities. Given Liloan’s favorable water quality and the strong involvement of the local community, the effort is expected to serve as a model for sustainable aquaculture and coastal resource management in Eastern Visayas.
Sea cucumbers, characterized by their elongated bodies and leathery skin, thrive in seagrass beds and on sandy or muddy bottoms. They are exported to Asian countries in dried form for their pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and culinary applications. The price of dried sea cucumber varies from PHP300 to PHP1,200 per kilogram.
