By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The local government of Sagay City in Negros Occidental has launched a breeding program for a rare breed of lobster in the Sagay Marine Reserve.

The project, led by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), aims to help replenish local stocks of lobster on the island.

The two varieties being bred are the tiger and bamboo lobsters. Both are varieties of the spiny lobster.

CENRO head, Antonio Cueva, said the innovation shows the city government’s pursuit of environmental sustainability while helping the local economy by enhancing rare lobster stocks in the Sagay Marine Reserve.

The CENRO released three female and two male spawns of bamboo lobster breeders last November 24.

Conservationists have also released two more female and male tiger lobster breeders on December 20.

The lobster breeders were placed in an open-type cage system submerged at sea, which allowed them to have a conducive environment for spawning while maintaining their natural habitat.

Cueva also said they are currently observing the survival rate of the released lobster eggs.

They are hopeful for the project’s success in the long run.

“As for every 50,000 eggs during the post-larval stage, only about two lobsters are expected to survive to legal size,” Cueva said.

City officials hope that the program will offer more economic opportunities for the locality./DGB, WDJ