Island fishers learn value addition, good manufacturing practices for scallops

Team Scallops of the Institute of Fish Processing Technology of UP Visayas’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS-IFPT) trained local fisherfolks from Islas de Gigantes, a group of islands in the northernmost part of Carles, Iloilo on value addition and good manufacturing practices for scallops on March 24, 2022.

18 members of Gigantes Federation of Fisherfolks Sector (GIFFS) Fishermen Cooperative participated in the one-day training on the processing of value-added products from scallops and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) held at the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC), Brgy. Lantangan of the said town.

IFPT’s Team Scallops is composed of Rose Mueda, commodity group leader; Mary Ann Serrano and Rosana Alama, commodity group members; and Ariel Sefil, science research assistant.

The training focused on the product improvements on the existing value-added products from scallops in the island, namely scallop balls, scallop nuggets, scallop empanada, and scallop lumpia.

The importance of GMP in the processing of these products was highlighted during the lecture. Brochures containing the improved formulations and procedures were given to the participant for reference.

A hands-on demonstration on the processing of scallop balls was also done to highlight the major interventions of the team on the current practice at the site.

Rose Mueda, University Researcher of CFOS-IFPT, served as the resource person/lecturer during the morning session.

This was followed by the actual processing of scallop balls that was facilitated by Alama and Sefil in the afternoon session.

Ms. Elde Grace Jardeleza and Ms. Araceli Labanon from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region VI and Ms. Aivy Jumawan from the local government unit of Carles accompanied and assisted the team in the conduct of the activity on-site.

Scallops are abundant in Islas de Gigantes, one of the most productive fishing grounds not only in the Province of Iloilo but in the whole country. It’s recognized for its abundant bivalve fishery, particularly scallops and spiny oysters. Scallops and spiny oyster harvesting account for the majority of the fishing in the Islands.  Compressor diving for scallops and oysters accounted for 8,473.5 MT, which was approximately half of the entire anticipated yearly catch (Acabado et al, 2018).

The training is a component of the Refinement Technologies Project led by Dr. Sharon N. Nuñal, director of CFOS-IFPT, and funded by the USAID Fish Right Program through the University of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. in partnership with BFAR Region VI. (Mary Ann G. Serrano and Lenilyn B. Gallos/ CFOS)