“FISH FOR LIFE” A livelihood Project for the Fish

Folks of Taguig City

A Joint Project of : The Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio

and The Rotary Club of Koln – Ville (Cologne, Germany)

March 2014

PROJECT LOCATION

C6 Taguig City

A VIEW OF THE C6 ROAD

C6 ROAD UTILIZING THE SHORELINE OF

LAGUNA LAKE

OCULAR OF PROJECT LOCATION

Barangay fishermen of C6 Taguig – main source of livelihood is fishing at the Laguna Lake

PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

Distibution of Fish Nets to fishermen along C6 Taguig City, the fish nets will put them back to fishing immediately.

THE PROJECT First Phase

1. Creation of livelihood for the spouses and family members of fishermen along the C6- Laguna Lake shoreline through the KNIFE FISH PROCESSING PROGRAM.

2. Donation of stuffing machines to barangays

THE PROJECT Second Phase

FIRST PHASE DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Taguig City Vice Mayor Ading Cruz together with Brgy. Lower Bicutan officials received fishnets from RCTFB for distribution to fishermen

December 14, 2013

FIRST PHASE Distribution of Fish Nets

DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS

RC Kolne-Ville President Stephan Zilkens and AG Charry Misa joined RCTFB during the distribution of fish nets in Barangay Bagumbayan

February 5, 2014

DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS

SECOND PHASE KNIFE FISH PROCESSING

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Background on knife fish

Knife fish first arrived in the country through the importation of aquarium or ornamental fish. It is called such because of it’s shape that resembles a knife. Because of floods, it made its way into Laguna de Bay. It’s population has boomed and is harming the aquaculture industry in Laguna Lake. Fish pen operators are suffering from losses because the knife fish lay eggs on stakes and poles in the fish pens. They are highly aggressive and highly carnivorous, They eat bangus, tilapia and shrimps.

According to a survey made by BFAR last year, it showed that knife fish comprised 40.35 percent of the total catch while harvest of aquaculture fish is much less: Tilapia, 24.15 percent; carp, 15.92 percent; and milkfish, 0.58 percent. Knife fish has to eat 7 kilograms of different types of fish to grow to a kilogram. The fish it eats costs an average of P150 a kg while the knife fish is so cheap at Php 18 to 20 a kg. So the fishermen are really at a losing end. (Source:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/359781/knife-fish-newest-scourge-in-lagunas-fish-farms)

To date, Knife fish are still a threat in the livelihood of the fisher folk communities of Taguig. In an interview with some fishermen, they said that they would just normally throw the Knife fish catch because it has no value to them.

Background on knife fish

Background on knife fish

The good news is, it’s EDIBLE! Knife Fish don’t have to be thrown away, it can be processed into fish products like fish balls, fish patties, fish dumplings, fish nuggets, fish longanisa, fish hotdog and some other fish meals that one can think of which can be sold in the market.

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Lower Bicutan

Meeting with Barangay officials headed by Chairman Ricardo Cruz

February 5 , 2014

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Lower Bicutan

Participants of the Knife Fish Processing seminar from Barangay Lower Bicutan, Taguig City conducted by BFAR Official through Gabayan Sa Kabuhayan

February 8, 2014

Donation of Stuffing Machine

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Lower Bicutan

February 8, 2014

The project was also featured in the show Ating Alamin by Jerry Geronimo on PTV4

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Lower Bicutan

February 8, 2014

Donation of Stuffing Machine received by Bagumbayan Administrator Dante Aquino

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Bagumbayan

February 15, 2014

Participants of the Knife Fish Processing seminar

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. Bagumbayan

February 15, 2014

Knife Fish Processing With Brgy. San Miguel

Meeting with Barangay Officials headed by Chairman Vicente Espital

February 28 , 2014

Knife Fish Processing With Barangay San Miguel

Knife Fish Processing seminar participants

Donation of Stuffing Machine

March 12, 2014

Knife Fish Processing With Barangay Wawa

Knife Fish Processing seminar participants

Donation of Stuffing Machine

March 12, 2014

Barangay Lower Bicutan

Barangay Bagumbayan

Barangay San Miguel

Barangay Wawa

…and counting

“FISH FOR LIFE” BENEFICIARIES

This project has not only helped address the issue of the increasing population of Knife fish in the lake but also provided sustainable livelihood for the fish folks of barangays along C6 Taguig.

COMMUNITY IMPACT