Due to the abundance of sardines (Sardinelia lemuru) locally known as “tamban” or “law-law” fish and strategic access to big fishing grounds, Bulan town in Sorsogon will be opening its first big-scale sardine canning factory in Bicol.
Governor Chiz Escudero said the sardine factory of the Guinbe Food Corporation, a known manufacturer of quality sardines, is expected to contribute to the economic activities of Sorsogon, particularly to those who will be hired as workers, to the fisherfolk in the province.
“The factory has pre-hired at least 600 workers coming from different towns of Sorsogon.”
Escudero said the factory has pre-hired at least 600 workers coming from different towns of Sorsogon in preparation for its full-blast operations this coming December.
The factory will also solve the problem of oversupply of sardine fish during its abundance in the fishing grounds of Bicol and the nearby places in the Visayas.
“The price per kilo of sardine fish or law-law is dropping drastically during their abundance. This canning factory will solve this problem,” said Ronel Dioneda, a marine biologist of Bicol University (BU), who is also a native of Sorsogon.
He said law-law belongs to at least 10 sardine species that can adapt to the pressure of overfishing and changing climatic conditions.
Dioneda, also the BU Research Center head, said law-law has the ability for quick replenishment and regeneration that negates the pressure of overfishing.
“Sardine fish replenishes very fast and breeds eggs far bigger in number than other species, and can literally cope with the fishing pressure,” he said.
Also sardine fish could adapt to the changing temperature by quickly migrating from warm seawater to a colder area for breeding, Dioneda added.
“Bulan is an ideal site for a sardine canning factory as its location is strategically accessible to fishermen coming from the Ragay Gulf, Ticao-Burias Pass, Samar Sea, and other fishing grounds of Bicol and the Visayas.”
He said Bulan is an ideal site for a sardine canning factory as its location is strategically accessible to fishermen coming from the Ragay Gulf, Ticao-Burias Pass, Samar Sea, and other fishing grounds of Bicol and the Visayas.
Dioneda noted sardine fish is very abundant between November and April.
Based on its 2017 data, the Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resources has approved at least four fishery establishments in Bicol– Bicol Blue Star Export Corporation in Brgy. Mahingan, Sorsogon City that is engaged in pasteurized chilled crab meat in can; Dai-Hai Marine Products Corporation in Cagba, Tugbo, Masbate City through frozen squid and scallop meat, and comb pen meat; We Golden High International Incorporated in Mahayahay, Cawayan and Masbate City that engages in frozen squid frozen scallop meat; and, the Kim Marine Products in Zone 6 Dugcal, Camaligan Camarines Sur that specializes in frozen boiled octopus.