Manila, July 11 -- A plan to transform this coastal town into "the fishing capital of the Pacific" gained momentum Friday after the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) signed an agreement to develop salt, seaweed, and hatchery projects within the ecozone.

Under the agreement, APECO and BFAR will undertake several key initiatives:

* Construct a PHP10 million artisanal salt facility on a one-hectare inland site in Barangay Cozo. This project is expected to create about 30 jobs and produce premium salt for local and export markets;

* Establish commercial seaweed farms across three northern bays - Diniog, Dalugan, and Cozo - each covering up to one hectare and...