Alcala urges aquaculture growers to use more organic fish feeds

MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is urging aquaculture growers to use more organic fish feeds and lessen their dependence on fish meal.

 In his presentation at the recent National Tuna Congress in Gen. Santos City, Alcala pointed out that feeds account for the biggest expenditures in the aquaculture business.

 “To get out from this fish meal trap, organic aquaculture should be given more support and research and development of alternative feed sources shall be undertaken,” he said.

 Alcala is a well-known advocate of organic agriculture, relying more on organic materials rather than on chemical fertilizers. Aside from getting out of the fish meal trap, he is also espousing a more “environment-friendly aquaculture.”

 According to Alcala, “foremost among the strategies towards ensuring environment- friendly aquaculture is the introduction of the mariculture park (MP) concept.”

 The MP concept is currently being promoted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and SEAFDEC as an integrated and sustainable approach to mariculture.

 Management in the MP is ecosystem-based and takes into consideration the ecological, social, economic and institutional aspects of development.

 Alcala pointed out that the introduction of the MP concept was also viewed as a strategy to address some of the pressing problems faced by the Philippine aquaculture industry. Among these problems were: fish kills caused by environmental degradation in densely farmed area, unregulated utilization of coastal waters for aquaculture, low productivity, slow adoption of technologies, inaccessibility to input suppliers and markets, and limited capital for investments.”

 The DA head added that the matured technologies available are polyculture and integrated farming; research and development activities on aquaculture impact mitigation; carrying capacity estimation, and promotion of organic aquaculture/mariculture.

 The DA will also help supply good quality seeds to fish farmers, he added.

 Through BFAR, Alcala said, the DA has initiated the establishment of hatcheries.

 However, Alcala admitted that “its contribution to the total fry requirements of the industry is still minimal.” “The private sector is therefore encouraged to invest in commercial hatchery operations, ensuring consistent and adequate supply of disease resistant, quality and high yielding seeds especially for commercially important species. R & D shall support selective breeding and strain improvement, gene banking, development of hatchery protocols for new and endemic species, improve existing hatchery techniques,” he said.