Six fisherfolk associations in Central Visayas benefited from the PHP3.8 million in funds allocated for the development of shellfish industry, an official said on Friday.

Elisa Cequiña, shellfish development focal person at the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resouces-7, said the fund has been used by the associations comprising 90 individuals to develop oyster production.

Oyster farming started in Cebu last year and another one was put up in Bohol this year with a PHP2 million allocation by the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency.

The project has already harvested nearly a ton of oysters since its inception last year.

Oyster production projects in the region are in Cebu province’s Bogo City, Medellin and San Remigio, and in areas affected by the closed fishing season of the Visayan Sea.

“Shellfish industry development is one of BFAR’s priority programs,” Cequiña said.

In the Philippine Shellfish Industry Roadmap 2021-2025, Central Visayas shellfish culture practices and species as reported by BFAR Regional Shellfish focal persons showed that the region is cultivating oysters, mussels, abalone, and wing oysters in about 7,000 total hectares.

“Shellfish processing is mostly limited to the more popular crustaceans and mollusks. In the Philippines, shellfish is consumed domestically. It is used as food and can be processed into oyster paste, with the shells powdered as a calcium supplement for poultry and livestock,” stated the Department of Agriculture roadmap. (PNA)