Sagay City is pioneering a rare lobster spawning project in Negros Island with the breeding of rare varieties of the crustaceans at the Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) starting this month.
The Sagay City Environment and Natural Resources Office (SCENRO) started the project with the breeding of two rare lobster varieties at the SMR, which aims to help replenish the lobster stock in Negros, a press release from Sagay City said Thursday, Dec. 28.
These varieties are two Spiny Lobster types which are the Tiger Lobster (Panulirus Ornatus) and Live Bamboo Lobster (Panulirus Versicolor) that can be bred in underwater cages at the SMR.
SCENRO Head Mayo Antonio Cueva said that this innovation shows the city government’s pursuit of environmental sustainability while helping the local economy by enhancing rare lobster stock at the SMR.
The SMR Office already initiated the release of three female and two male spawns of bamboo lobster breeders weighing 1.7 kilograms each on Nov. 24.
On Dec. 20, two more female and a male tiger lobster breeder spawns weighing two kilos each were released at the marine reserve.
The lobster breeders were placed in an open-type cage system submerged at sea which allows them to have a conducive environment for spawning while maintaining their natural habitat.
Cueva also said that they are currently observing the survival rate of the released lobster eggs and they are hopeful for the project’s success in the long run.
As for every 50,000 eggs during the post-larval stage, only about two lobsters are expected to survive to legal size, he added.
Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, who led the initiative, said it “signifies our commitment to preserving marine biodiversity and securing a thriving ecosystem for future Sagaynons.”
He also hopes that through this program, more economic opportunities and innovations on sustainability would be introduced to SMR and Sagay as a whole.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. has also assured his support for the program and vowed to convene with the SMR council and hear proposals on fishery innovation and sustainability of the city’s marine reserve.
Rep. Alfredo D. MarañonI II (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), who is chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, commended the initiative for its proactive approach in addressing the decline of rare lobster species.
“It aligns with our shared vision that sustainable fisheries and marine conservation will bolster the lobster population and also serve as a model for other coastal communities in promoting responsible aquaculture practices,” he added.*