The following strategies are of critical importance in the development of the Mariculture Zone:

     All areas for mariculture zones shall be selected based on technical, social, economic viability and sustainability. Environmental preservation shall be the management's paramount concern.

a.

Municipal Ordinance reserving the identified marine area as mariculture zone and enacted by the Sangguniang Bayan.

b.

grant of MZ areas shall be based on mooring spaces not area-hectarage to ensure that usage of area-space for sea cage farming is solely based on the granted space as provided. Mooring spaces granted not developed/installed with cage within 6 months period will be forfeited and awarded to other applicants.

c.

Areas earmarked for cage installation shall be considered priority for development, floating structures shall be limited for sea cage only, with a prescribed allowable attachment-raft considered for two (2) days feed consumption and caretaker-security shelter only.

Circular Cage up to 15 meters diameter : one (1) 100 sq.m. raft per two (2) units of cage

Square Cage up to 20x20 meters : one (1) 100 sq.m. raft per two (2) units of cage

Square Cage up to 10x10 meters : one (1) 100 sq.m. raft per three (3) units of cage.

       The MZ management considers priority investors willing to establish floating rafts for feed storage in areas designated for the purpose.

       Sea cage installation distances shall be followed strictly. generally, cage sizes ranging from 10x10 meters to 20x20 meters - square and 10 to 15 meters diameter - circular cages shall have a distance of 5 meters between cage in a cluster of 3-6 cages. For purposes of efficiency in management, distance from one cage to another in one cluster may be allowed up to 2 meters, provided that proportionate areas are set aside to compensate for the adjusted area.

        Distance of cages from one cluster to another shall be maintained at 10 meters.

d.

Mariculture zone Development Plan - indicating navigational lanes, mooring systems location, farm plots or sea cages sub-division, an other uses of areas, such as support floating assets (feeds, stocking boat - raft, harvesting boats and equipments)

1.

Navigational lanes shall be properly defined using visible markers and shall not be obstructed at all times.

2.

Mooring systems shall be installed by BFAR in areas allocated for small investors following the prescribed BFAR design and standards. Big investors, as provided for in these rules, shall be given the privilege to establish their respective mooring systems following BFAR design and under the EMC supervision.

3.

Seacages shall be installed in pre-arranged/identified plots with arrangements as stated above.

4.

Other uses of Mariculture Zone

a.

Fingerlings Holding and Conditioning Cage - Area for fingerling holding and conditioning cages shall be located considering factors such as moderate water current, free from runoff water during rain, secured not disturbed by other activities, with good navigational lanes to facilitate movement during stocking. Grant of fingerling holding and conditioning cage area shall be on mooring/cage space only. granted applications shall only be forfeited and granted to other applicants.

b.

Utility Areas -

1.

Floating houses for feed storage, investors rest house and recreation area. - Shall be allocated within the MZ in areas intended for the purpose, and should not compete with the area good for installation of cages for farming purposes.

2.

Anchorage for harvesting rafts, boats and other paraphernalias when not used for harvesting.

3.

Anchorage for service boats and other floating assets of the investors, suppliers and EMC operations.

5.

Fish Stocking - the MZ shall adopt the following rules and procedures.

       As a general rule the MZ shall adopt stocking sizes for all species of 50-60 grams or 5-6 inches in length measured from the tip of the mouthj to the tip of the tail. the primary reason is to reduce the culture period int he cage in order to proportionately reduce possible feeds residue in the MZ.

a.

Prior to stocking - the investor/locators shall submit a formal notice to the EMC indicating the volume, schedule and source of the stock. The objective is to ensure quality and healthy stock, for PMU monitoring and technical servicing, to be able to predict volume and delivery of feed requirements and for harvesting/ and orderly marketing.

b.

after stocking the investor/locators shall submit a stocking report indicating the date and time of stocking, actual volume of fingerlings/juveniles accepted, number of mortality - the purpose is to validate fingerling suppliers as to compliance of quality and health requirements of the stock, good handling and transport practices

c.

Mangrove areas in the mariculture zone - The utilization of mangrove areas int he mariculture zone shall follow strictly the provisions of Sec. 94, R.A. 8550. the mangrove area int he sea coast plays a very vital role in the viability and sustainability of the mariculture zone, as it provide protection of runoff water from agricultural land, filters soil particles/sediments and other pollutants from the land. Mangrove comprise one of the most diverse communities in the coastal zone, providing habitat that serves as reservoirs, refuges, feeding grounds, and nursery grounds for many small and useful organisms such as crabs, shrimps, and juvenile stages of commercial fish species. Its preservation is therefore very important as a livelihood source of fisherfolks of communities surrounding the mariculture zone.

d.

Waste Disposal - investors are required to provide waste disposal system in any operating unit such cages, floating flat forms, harvesters and other assets.

e.

A one-hectare Research and Development (R & D) area shall be designated for the conduct of research and demonstration activities as well as a venue for the manpower capability trainings int he mariculture zone. This R & D area shall be jointly managed by the LGU and BFAR.

     Control over mariculture operations is necessary to ensure compliance with prescribed regulations particularly those pertaining to encroachment, species management and environmental control.

a.

Mariculture operations will require a lease approved by the LGU, specifically to address the following:

Extent (area) of mariculture site

Type of operation to be carried out (species to be cultured and method to be used)

Time frame of the permit or lease

Performance

Fees

Termination

b.

For the protection of mutual interests among investors and ancillary industries in the Mariculture Zone, and Accreditation System has been institutionalized by BFAR.

Guidelines for Accreditation of Ancillary Industries

a.

Creation of a Manpower Pool thru:

a.1.

Intensive training programs for:

Sea Cage Caretakers

Cage Construction and Maintenance Crews

Mooring Systems Maintenance Laborers

Cage Watchmen

Processors/Post Harvest Workers

a.2.

Technology Trainings:

Seaweed Farming

Pearl Farming

Shellfish Farming

b.

Capability Trainings:

b.1.

Entrepreneurship for Farm Managers/Cooperative

Chairman/Association Presidents

b.2.

Cooperative Development (with CDA)

b.3.

Coastal Resource Management

     Trainings are geared towards providing a balance of practical and theoretical approaches to train fishermen and provide more skillful and innovative manpower to the industry.

     Future investment in mariculture should be made with long-term strategies in mind to ensure sustainability. Private sector investments make the biggest contribution to the development of the mariculture zone, but adequate public sector finance for capacity building, institutional development and infrastructure, is indispensable for coastal communities to reap the full benefits of a well managed and efficient mariculture zone.

a.

Provision of technical and other assistance for fisherfolk and private investors.

b.

Product development and marketing

-

Assisting producers, processors and manufacturers in identifying markets for mariculture inputs, products and technology;

-

Providing data for, and investing in information-technology based market-information systems that are easily accessed by producers and processors;

-

Establish and strengthen market linkages

-

Researching changing consumption patterns, market segmentation trends and the emergence of new markets and products; and

-

Undertake product development studies (development of new products, product labeling and packaging)

c.

Establishing credit schemes that support the mariculture zone, e.g., micro-credit programs, particularly for small-scale development.; low-cost loans; grow-now pay-later schemes.

d.

Provision of incentives for investors/fisherfolk (tax holidays, etc.)

a.

Enact and enforce regulations to protect the rights of those engaged in mariculture, as well as the consumers specifically to address the following:

-

Preventing the release of pollutants to waters i the mariculture zone.

-

Setting up a process for setting of compensatory claims as a result of pollution incidents such as oil spills and the release of other contaminants

-

Monitor aquatic food products, from the mariculture zone to protect the public from the consumption of contaminated foods/culture species (Implement HACCP in the mariculture zone).

b.

Subject all types of mariculture development proposals to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

c.

The Code of Conduct for Sustainable Aquaculture should be implemented, adopted and enforced

d.

Adopt and enforce standards, and regulations to prevent the adverse impacts of mariculture activities on the environment to include, but not necessarily limited to specific regulations for:

a.

Develop and implement a public education program on mariculture and its sociological, economic and ecological significance

b.

Target the program primarily at communities in close proximity to actual or potential mariculture sites, as well as potential investors and stakeholders of the mariculture zone

c.

Ensure wide circulation thru: leaflets and radio broadcasts re: the Mariculture Zone

d.

Development of efficient communication networks for the development and promotion of the Mariculture Zone.