Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao! BREEDING RARE SEA CUCUMBER GETS P72-M DOST SUPPORT FUND

Naawan, Misamis Oriental – A scientific research team from the Mindanao State University (MSU) Naawan, Misamis Oriental Campus has succeeded in breeding and propagating the Sea Cucumber or “Balat,” an expensive marine product which sells as much as P8,000 per kilo.

The success of the research team, headed by Dr. Wilfredo Uy, is mainly because of the support of foreign funding agencies and lately the Department of Science and Technology with a P72-M grant which was released after Sec. Fortunato dela Peña visited the school.

MSU Naawan Chancellor Elnor Roa said the Sea Cucumber Breeding Project is now ready for roll-out to the different coastal communities where the supply of the expensive Sea Cucumber is getting scarce.

Under the program, the research team “borrows” mother Sea Cucumbers from the coastal communities and breeds these in the faciities.

The Mother Sea Cucumbers are returned to their habitat as soon as they produce young Sea Cucumbers which are then given back to he community to raise and harvest after 9 months to one year.

Dr. Uy said they have already perfected the technology for the breeding of the Sand Fish Sea Cucumber and the team is now working on the more expensive and larger Teat Fish species which sells for up to P8,000 per kilo.

This development has a huge impact on the Mindanao Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Program of the Mindanao Development Authority as it attempts to provide more income earning opportunities to fisherfolks in the region.

Sea Cucumber does not need special care or commercial feeds, according to Dr. Uy and this could be a source of good income for fishing families in Mindanao.

#DiKabaliwanAngResearch!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

(This video presentation was produced by the Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao Media Team for the Mindanao Development Authority. Translation by Iris Ferraris, MinDA.)

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