The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 6 has identified four municipalities in Western Visayas with potentials to supply abalone in both local and international markets, a government press release said.

Irwin Ilaya, BFAR coastal resource management head, said these are the towns of Tobias Fornier and San Jose in Antique, Malay in Aklan and Jordan in Guimaras.

Abalone, a shell locally known as “sobra-sobra" or "kapinan," also abounds in Estancia, Concepcion and other towns in northern Iloilo, the press release said.

Ilaya said abalone stocks have been placed in designated fish sanctuaries of these municipalities early this year under the stock enhancement program. The abalone will reach its reproductive size in eight to nine months.

The program aims to revive abalone production in the region and at the same time provide livelihood to shell gatherers. In local restaurants, a plate of abalone in shells costs P1,000 while in Malay, Aklan, a kilo of abalone is priced at P500.

Abalone is one of the most commercially important commodities for domestic and export markets. About 30 percent of frozen abalone supply in the Philippines are exported. Among the biggest abalone export markets are Europe, North America and Hongkong, the press release said.

Abalone can spawn eggs from 200,6000 to 600,000. However, its survival rate is only 10 percent.

The survival rate is affected by environmental condition, and abalone eggs are also eaten by crustaceans like crabs.

This disturbs the survival rate of the spawn eggs, Ilaya said, adding that local government units should do their part in protecting abalone production.*PNA

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