March 29, 2024

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Thirty thousand carp fingerlings were released along the Chico and Agkhuyo water systems on May 6.

The dispersal was made possible through the Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that aims to repopulate freshwater bodies with indigenous fish species.

Mayor Franklin Odsey thanked the BFAR for granting the town’s request for the provision of fingerlings for the municipality’s water systems.

Odsey commended the agencies and stakeholders for the realization of the carp fingerlings dispersal, which he hopes will be ready for harvest in one year. 

The mayor appealed to the public to observe proper, safe, and environment-friendly fishing practices through the use of appropriate gears, non-use of harmful fishing methods, and venturing into possible ways of  processing the fish catch. 

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Administrative Officer Ross Kiat-ong said other agencies involved in the carp fingerlings dispersal are the BFAR regional and provincial offices, the local government unit, and barangays Samoki and Bontoc Ili. 

Kiat-ong said in the past years, different fish species were released along the Chico River, such as carp, tilapia, ulang (fresh water prawn), gurami, and eel. – Alpine L. Killa