Guimaras: SEAFDEC at Igang Marine Station

SEAFDEC or the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center was my first destination during my Guimaras island hopping tour. Since this was my first island hopping experience in Guimaras Island, this was also my first time to visit the SEAFDEC facility. The research center is where they breed and study different species of fishes and other marine life--including the biggest Grouper or Lapu-lapu I have ever seen!

One of the cottages at SEAFDEC in Guimaras

It was my tricycle driver who suggested to put SEAFDEC as my first stopover while the facility is still open for visitors. A little past 2 PM when our motorized boat left Raymen Beach Resort in Alubihod Beach. It took us about 20 minutes to get to SEAFDEC's Igang Marine Station which is located in Brgy. Igang, Nueva Valencia.

While approaching the facility, large fish pens and cages can been seen from afar. We docked in a floating cottage which happens to be their Floating Laboratory. The security guard who welcomed me also served as my tour guide around the facility. He shared some information about their breeding and hatchery processes and basically stuff about fisheries which added to my knowledge. He also showed to me the different species of fishes such as giant grouper, pompano, seabass and red snapper contained in their fish cages. I was overwhelmed by the monstrous size of their fishes!

You can watch the video clip I took of their giant grouper fishes via Youtube here.

Some of the fish cages at SEAFDEC

Giant Grouper (Lapu-lapu) - the biggest I've seen!

Large circular milkfish seacage

Feeding the seabass or "bulgan" fish

Seabass swarming on food

Closer look of seabass

The Floating Laboratory of SEAFDEC

I have learned that SEAFDEC pioneered the artificial propagation of milkfish as far back as 1976, and no wonder I was able to see lots of them there!

Before my tour was about to finish, he showed me a slimy-looking sea creature called abalone which they also breed and culture. It is a type of sea snail which can be consumed raw or cooked. According to him, they export them to other Asian countries that's why abalones are very expensive.

Live abalone at SEAFDEC

The guide had wanted to tour me to their shrimp farm but I declined saying that I needed to leave as my time was very limited (I only have two hours for the whole island hopping tour). I gave him P25 for the entrance fee and followed him to SEAFDEC office which is connected by the floating wooden bridge.

I headed back to the boat and soon realized that we passed by Alubihod Beach again on the way to our second destination -- the Ave Maria Islet. Later, I found out that SEAFDEC was the farthest spot in our itinerary because it's located in the opposite direction while the rest of the destinations was just near to each other. Half of my two hours was spent for SEAFDEC alone. Unless you're interested with marine life research, aquaculture or has plenty of time for the tour, you can skip this from your itinerary.

Click here to view more photos of SEAFDEC at Igang Marine Station.






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13 comments:

Franc Ramon said...

It was a good advice from the tricycle driver for you to visit the marine station and appreciate marine life here.

Joshua said...

The marine life in that station seems so vibrant. I hope more funds are given to marine stations like that to create more jobs in that area and learn more about what those sea creatures can offer.
- Wanderer Juan

Shirgie Scf said...

beautiful shots. I was in Raymen Beach resort at Guimaras last year but haven't heard of SEAFDEC yet. The good thing about visiting Guimaras is that, the tricycle driver is your instant tourist guide. the same thing happened to me, it was my tricycle driver who suggested what places to visit in Guimaras.

mark pogi said...

What I like about this post is how clean and crisp your shots are. ^_^

Diaryni Gracia said...

That was really a breath taking ;photo you did captured. .. I've been there in guimaras and it did really a cool place to hop.

papaleng said...

wow! great shots. Yan pala ang live abalone. I am used to eating them in one Restaurant sa Chinatown.

joy adalia said...

I always love nature - it is nice to see pictures of the lovely day and the fish that you saw. The place looks nice. I've only seen the abalone in anime :D

Claire Rafols said...

This the first time I heard about SEAFDEC and its really beautiful looking at all those marine life

Francis Balgos said...

Ang laki ng Lapu-lapu.. and the sea bass.. must have been a sight.
I remember that Abalone, think that's the one our guide caught along the corals in hundred islands

levy martinez said...

nice place and nice pictures. What camera are you using? I wish to visit this place when we go there and check out that huge Lapu-Lapu

sarah jean gavile said...

I love watching your beautiful photos. I hope to visit also this place someday with my husband.

Kim Nieves said...

Oh my, beautiful fishes! Makes me want to fly to Guimaras and catch one. ♥

ian | going places said...

Dito naubos time namin eh, nawili kaya lumobo rate namin sa island hopping tsaka ang layo pero kaaliw naman yung mga breed fishes like yung mutant na bangus at giant lapu-lapu.

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