Building a Small Lobster Hatchery here in the Philippines

[jamesmusslewhite]

The walls of the remaining six saltwater tanks are almost completed as the exterior and interior wall surfaces are being covered with their cement layers. The ceramic tiles which will be used to line the tops and insides surfaces of all the tanks have been ordered and waiting to be delivered to the island. These six tanks stand on two (8 foot X 8 foot) foundations and one (7 foot X 7 foot) foundation and each is partitioned down their middle. This means these three foundation house four 4 foot X 8 foot saltwater tanks and two (3-1/2 foot X 7 foot) saltwater tanks. As I mentioned before these six saltwater tanks will be of paramount importance to the process as they will be used to raise shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, rotifers and planktonic algae needed to properly feed the Stage I thru Stage IV post larval lobster.

This photos were taken from both outside and inside the facility and some actually have my wife standing next to these saltwater tanks. She stands at a height of 4 foot 11-3/4 inches so she can easily give readers of this thread a reasonable prospective as to the overall height and girth of these six large saltwater tanks. 

These first three photo of the tanks where taken from outside of the facility.

These three photos were taken from inside the facility. .

 

It is nice to finally get to this stage of the project as the installation of these large saltwater tanks means that while we are cutting the ceramic tiles and installing the ceramic tiles to the tops and insides of all the tanks I can now start focusing on the task of leveling a floor grate and the installation of the floor sump boxes and all the associated plumbing and electrical wiring involved. I will certainly be adding posts pertaining to those particular tasks here on this thread as those projects progress. 

Edited October 14, 2016 by jamesmusslewhite

[jamesmusslewhite]

   This is the 12th video in this series of weekly video updates meant to be a video diary showing the weekly progress of this facility. I hope viewers find it both interesting and informative.

Everyone is welcome to visit and view my Youtube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Rkikd3hnZ0MgGyXiJh5KA

 

 

[jamesmusslewhite]

Interesting thing occurred Thursday as I was once again visited by Mr. Joselito fisheries specialist for Winrock International http://www.winrockpccp.org/ 'Philippine Cold Chain Project' (sponsored by the USDA) and was asked to meet his boss Mr. Daniel J. Gudahl who is Chief of Party of Winrock International. I met with them at the DTI (Department of Trade & Industry) here in Surigao City and they explained to me that they are working towards establishing the Caraga Region raise lobster as a registered trademark 'Caraga Lobster' due to the volume of growers in this region and the known high quality of the lobsters grown in these waters.They said there were to things which has alluded them so far which was sources of fingerlings and a viable alternative food source. Both of which I am actively involved in. There is currently no know lobster hatcheries operating in the Philippines.

 

In 2012 it was reported that Malaysia has been trying to establish a large commercial aquaculture park project through  funding by the Darden Restaurants organization which is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Orlando, Florida consisting of over 200 restaurants including the well known 'Red Lobster' restaurant chain. In March 2012, Darden Aquafarm announced plans to invest $300 million to jointly develop a proposed $650 million lobster farming park in Semp*orna, Sabah, East Malaysia. This is suppose to cover 9,300 hectares of which 6,000 hectors will be dedicated to commercial lobster farming; 700 hectares to research and development training and 2,600 hectares for production of mussel species. Their projection is it's completion in 2029 with the hope of creating 12,000. But eariler this year it was announced the large sell of Darden Restraunts assets including their 'Red Lobster' chain so this Malaysian projects may be faltering as they have now lost their largest commitment for funds. http://www.therakyat...ster-farm-plan/ 

 

Vietnam companies has added an even harder strain on local small lobster growers needing lobster fingerlings as these companies are presently very active in the Philippines trying to purchase any available lobster fingerling to ship back to their own growers in Vietnam. This quick growing demand here in the Philippines and now demands from foreign interest for live-catch lobster fingerlings will surely begin to strain and take it's toll on the natural supply. This inevitable over-striping of lobster fingerlings and resulting diminishing supply and rising cost for lobster fingerlings will eventually be a strangle hold over this industry. The only viable solution is the establishment of lobster hatcheries. Presently the cost to construct large commercial hatcheries hinders most to build and operate lobster hatcheries. I see the only solution is to totally rethink the present concept and to streamline and simplify the setup were they can be used to produce small profitable hatcheries capable of being built even in the most remote areas that are vertically free of local power grids, made from materials that are easily found, and at a cost that a small investor or group of investors would find of interest. Facilities that have extremely small environmental foot prints that can not only help relieve the stress imposed on natural lobster population but are actually capable of free-releasing healthy Stage IV larvae back into the waters of the Philippines to help revitalize natural populations. I believe it is this concept that attracted Winrock International to my door.     

 

Here in Caraga Region especially in the Surigao City, Dinagat Island and Siargao Island area these coastal waters are peppered with large pockets of clustered lobster growers. The number of new growers is steadily increasing and there is a huge growth potential within this industry which is creating new small businesses and generating jobs. These growers are beginning to inner-network and organize and already know for the quality of the product raised in these waters which is why the Caraga region has adopted the Caraga lobster will now be trademarked. This trademark will be used in promoting and exporting of lobster produced in this region. Next month there will be an EXPO in the city of Butuan. I was asked if I would be willing to speak and conduct an one hour PowerPoint presentation on the subject of lobster product as it relates to lobster hatcheries. I told them I will be more than happy to participate as I see the EXPO to be a benefit to the locals as well as many of my Filipino friends and associates who are involved in this ever growing industry. The following video is also found on the Winrock website (link provided above) to announce and promotion the 2016 WI PCCP CARAT EXPO to be held in the Robensons Place Mall in Butuan City from November 7 thru November 12 here on the big island of Mindanao. So it looks like I will be going to Butuan next month to make a total bumbling fool out of myself and bore lobster people to Ad nauseam.

 

 

[jamesmusslewhite]

As I mention above I was asked to give a one-hour PowerPoint presentation on the opening date of the first 'Caraga Agricultural Trade and marketing Exposition' (CARAT) Expo in the Robinson Mall, Butuan. I will be discussing lobster production and talking about the lobster hatchery here in Surigao. I found this article posted on the PIA website which covers in more detail about the CARAT EXPO.

 

News Feature: Butuan biz group promotes 'Caraga Lobster' as regional signature brand

September 19, 2016 

Venus L. Garcia

 

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) - For a region that envisions of becoming the fishery, agri-forestry, mineral and eco-tourism center of the country, the upcoming Caraga Agricultural Trade and marketing Exposition (CARAT Expo 2016) slated to open here on November 9-13, 2016 is seen to bolster a signature brand for the region – the ‘Caraga Lobster.’

As the lead chamber in organizing the CARAT Expo, Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (BCCFI) tagged it as the premiere agri-fishery-related event in Mindanao that targets to identify a local product that will significantly stand out as the chief and distinctive product of Caraga region.

This 2016 CARAT Expo is also conceptualized to supplement the Philippine Cold Chain Project’s (PCCP) thrust of providing more focused marketing and trading initiatives to help increase productivity and create trade opportunities for small producers in Caraga.

Dan Gudhal, chief of party of the Winrock International, underlined that the Philippine Cold Chain Project (PCCP) is a four-year United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded program implemented by the Winrock International in Caraga region. He added that it has two primary objectives. One is to increase the production of perishable high-valued commodities, and the other is to improve marketing of those same commodities.

“We are working with things like lobster, vegetables, fisheries and the other products here in Caraga region. We are very excited to have lobster as the signature brand for Caraga region because lobster is a high-valued product and it’s something unique to the Caraga region. It really exemplifies the wonderful opportunities that are available here in Caraga,” said Gudhal.

 

The abundant local products of Caraga provinces

Caraga region as an administrative region in the country occupying the northeastern section of the island of Mindanao is known to be rich and abundant in agricultural and aquamarine products.

BCCFI president Roger Ramirez said that “what makes the Agusan Norte mangos extraordinary palatable is because of the sea breeze and ideal amount of moisture that gives the right sweetness and healthy fiber."

Abundant in Agusan del Sur province is the palm fruit called ‘kaong’. It is a main ingredient for the famous Pinoy ‘halo-halo’ and some other dessert salads, declared Freddie Mero, Agusan de Sur chamber president.

Boosting also the Surigao del Norte’s product, Surigao City chamber president Conception Paqueo said that swordfish, locally called ‘liplipan,’ is superb for kinilaw, grill, or paksiw. “It is also top notch for the International Game Fishing Competition in Siargao,” she added.

While king crabs in Bislig City is considered to be the biggest type in the country with its distinct taste, ‘vannamie,’ also known as white shrimps, a variety of prawn which is abundant in the municipality of Tagum, Surigao del Sur which is seven kilometers away from Tandag City is the most popular in dishes and recipes. They are also perfect for cocktail or events in a boodle feast, said Tandag chamber president Emma Guerra.

In Dinagat Islands, ‘lapu-lapu’ or groupers come in different colors and sizes yet has the same delectable taste. It is perfect for ‘escabeche’ dish.

On top of the provincial products, Caraga brings to the country and to the world its regional product brand - the ‘CARAGA Lobster.’

“Among the many products which Caraga is planning to showcase is the lobster because the people of Dinagat Islands have successfully cultured lobsters and a lot of them are already earning a livelihood from raising lobster in captivity. So lobster is a very prominent product to be displayed during the CARAT Expo, including other aquamarine products such as milkfish, grouper, lapu-lapu and seven other species which have been declared by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as technically feasible to be raised in captivity. Watch out for CARAT Expo coming very soon,” said Department of Trade and Industry Caraga regional director Brielgo Pagaran.

Caraga Lobster will banner Caraga region as it projects the largest and fastest growing economic hub in Mindanao. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2761474207363/news-feature-butuan-biz-group-promotes-caraga-lobster-as-regional-signature-brand-

Edited October 28, 2016 by jamesmusslewhite

[jamesmusslewhite]

 

[jamesmusslewhite]

 

[AlwaysRt]

On 11/5/2016 at 8:07 PM, jamesmusslewhite said:

 

Been missing your updates, especially on the chicken coop. Hope you are well and just busy, and not ran into problems.

[jamesmusslewhite]

The project was put on hold for a couple of months due to the need for ordering materials and labor crew being needed elsewhere, but the rainy season here has been the biggest factor slowing everything to a crawl. The weather will be changing for the better in the weeks to come, all the needed materials are presently being staged over on the mainland and those other projects that has had the work crew occupied are all almost completes; so we should be kicking everything here back into high gear once again. It was nice to have the off-time to relax and do some needed research and catch up on some writing, but we're well rested and ready to seriously attack the remaining tile work needed to finish all the saltwater tanks. Once they are done then the real fun stuff can finally begin.

 

This is a video I have wanted to do and I finally got around to finishing it today. It is simply some of my rough sketches of the facility and equipment and the finished color drawings. I will be posting videos over the coming weeks that will begin to discuss the drawings shown in this video in more detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrC5ciJoVrs&t=4s

 

 

Edited January 28, 2017 by jamesmusslewhite

[jamesmusslewhite]

Just posting to test the thread, had issue posting on another of my threads so I as checking to see if it is isolated to only that thread.

[jamesmusslewhite]

Lobster-crazy China sets record for US crustacean imports

Patrick Whittle, Associated Press

Associated Press20 March 2017

 

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, live lobsters are packed and weighed for overseas shipment at the Maine Lobster Outlet in York, Maine. The expanding market for lobsters in China is continuing to grow, with the country setting a new record for the value of its imports of the crustaceans from the United States. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

ROCKPORT, Maine (AP) -- The expanding market for lobsters in China is continuing to grow, with the country setting a new record for the value of its imports of the crustaceans from the United States.

American lobster was almost unheard of in most of China until 2010, when the value of imports grew 250 percent to about $7.4 million. Last year, China imported more than $108 million in lobsters from America, surpassing the previous high of about $90.2 million in 2014.

"We've opened new markets in Asia, which is booming," said Dave Cousens, president of the Maine Lobstermen's Association. "Everything is clicking now."

Chinese importers took in more than 14 million pounds of U.S. lobsters last year, which was also a record. The previous high was about 13.1 million pounds the previous year.

Interest in American lobster has grown in other countries in Asia as well, such as South Korea, which grew from less than $5 million in 2010 to nearly $28 million last year. Vietnam's imports grew from $142,940 to more than $31 million in that time.

One of the factors spurring the growth of lobsters in China appears to be the growth of the country's middle class, said Stephanie Nadeau, owner of The Lobster Company, in Arundel, Maine, which is a key player in the export business. American lobsters tend to be less expensive in China than other live seafood, such as spiny lobsters and geoduck clams, she said.

"It's kind of an affordable luxury," Nadeau said. "One of my customers said our lobsters are one of the cheapest things in the live tanks."

The uptick came in a record year for lobster catch in Maine, where most of America's lobster catch comes ashore. Fishermen caught more than 130 million pounds of lobster in Maine last year, an all-time record and more than double the 2007 total. Atlantic Canada also has a large lobster fishery and sends the same species of lobster to China.

"The Asian market is a key component," said Patrick Keliher, the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

Lobster sales to China do not appear to be slowing down in the new year. America exported more than 1.7 million pounds and $14 million in lobsters to the country in the first month of the year.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/lobster-crazy-china-sets-record-163225596.html