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When
you are asked "what is San Esteban
famous for?", several things crop out
of one's mind. Answers may vary from the
venerable and ageless alsong to the endearing
San Esteban Hymn or maybe it's the hometown
of the former distinguished public servant
Manong Ernie Maceda. There are many more
but for sure that succulent sea urchin locally
known as maritangtang is tops on the list.
Until
the early 90's, maritangtang teemed on the
seashores of our coastal barangays. People
simply gathered them during low tide. And
because they were abundant they sell very
cheap. The tasty, yellowish flesh are segregated
and scooped from its shell and bottled to
be sold in other places or given as pasalubong
to relatives in Manila. The superior taste
of maritangtang coming from San Esteban
differ from those harvested in other areas.
Picnics and other feasts were not complete
without having maritangtang on the table.
And our guests and visitors kept on craving
for it. To the Japanese, this is uni, the
most expensive topping for sushi due to
its scarcity.
Unfortunately
for maritangtang lovers, this creature,
little by little disappeared from its habitat.
Owing to bad practices, the population of
maritangtang dwindled until time came that
they were almost extinct. This unlikely
situation can be attributed to two major
factors. First is the illegal use of the
local fishermen of chemicals like the dreaded
sodium and cyanide that ensured the decimation
of the very sensitive creature. Second factor
is the over gathering of baby urchins which
were sold to cage operators in Nalvo and
Lingsat in Sta. Maria or Ambukao in Santiago
who in turn gained much profit by selling
back to us the mature urchins at an exorbitant
price of 150 pesos per kilo or 20 pesos
apiece.
Even
before, the local government took notice
of this problem that on January 2, 2001
the municipal council enacted an ordinance
prohibiting residents and non residents
from gathering and caging of sea urchins.
From thereon, we gradually noticed the growth
of maritangtang in our coastal barangays.
Their return brought us hope that they will
again abound and give our palates another
chance on this marine delicacy. The bad
news is the gatherers are back picking every
baby urchin on sight and selling them to
other places claiming that this is one source
of their livelihood.
The
present administration can't take this challenge
sitting down. We sought out the advise of
proper authorities particularly the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources who responded
positively and presented a solution that
will benefit all concerned. They suggested
what they call a grow-out culture where
the baby urchins are gathered and caged.
They will be continuously fed with seaweeds
or aragan until they reach 8 months which
is their reproduction period. Unknown to
us, their being together in a cage raises
the rate of fertilization of the female
egg and male sperm that turns into larvae.
Researchers say that, in order to survive
these larvae should not leave their breeding
place or where their parents are located
for 3 months until they develop into baby
urchins then mature and be ready for another
cycle.
The
grow out culture is beneficial in two ways.
First the population of maritangtang will
increase because the fertilization is ensured
and that the larvae will not go far because
of the presence of the matured urchins.
Secondly, the matured urchins can be sold
commercially and provide livelihood to the
gatherers. So long as the people observe
the complete cycle before selling, they
are assured of a continuous supply of maritangtang
for us to enjoy.
The
marine biologists have suggested us to put
up a model cage to experiment the positive
effects of the grow out culture. The cage
is inexpensive and easy to maintain. They
should be fed regularly for twice a week
with seaweeds or aragan that are at present
abundant and of course we know for a fact
that our waters are conducive to maritangtang
culture since this is there usual habitat.
The key is discipline. Do not be greedy
and sell your stock while they have not
yet reproduced and guided their young into
maturity.
This
administration commits itself to ecological
balance, environment protectionism particularly
to our God-given marine resources, saving
every endangered specie from its predators
and at the same time provide adequate food
supply and source of livelihood to our less
fortunate constituents.
Next
time you come San Esteban, enjoy once again
the succulent maritangtang, at a lesser
price of course!
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