Four WV towns potential abalone producers
Four municipalities in Western Visayas have the potential to supply abalone in local and international market should they give importance on the abalone stocks already released to their respective fish sanctuaries.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Coastal Resource Management Head Irwin Ilaya identified the towns of Tobias Fornier and San Jose in Antique, Malay in Aklan and Jordan in Guimaras as possible abalone producers after they were already provided with abalone stocks.
Ilaya said it is already up for the local government units to protect and give emphasis on the production of abalone. The population of abalone declined because of the heavy exploitation of the natural resources. The commodity demands a high price in the market.
Abalone which is locally known as "sobra-sobra" or "kapinan" abounds in Guimaras, Estancia, Concepcion and other towns in the northern part of Iloilo. The distribution of abalone stocks is part of the bureau's stock enhancement program, said Ilaya.
The program aims to revive the existence of abalone and same time provides food and livelihood to shell gatherers. In local restaurants, a plate of abalone with shells cost P1,000. While, in Malay, a kilo of abalone cost P500.
Abalone is one of the most commercially important commodities for domestic and export. The country contributes about 30 percent share of the frozen abalone for exports. Among the biggest abalone export market are Europe, North America and Hongkong.
Ilaya said the abalone stocks were placed in the designated fish sanctuaries of the respective municipalities. The abalone stocks have been released early part of year 2007. It will reach its reproductive size in eight to nine months.
They can spawn eggs as much as 200,000 to 600,000. However, its survival rate is only 10 percent. The survival rate is affected by the environmental condition and eggs are also eaten by crustaceans like crabs. This disturbs the survival rate of the spawn eggs, said Ilaya.