Milkfish technology to augment current shortage

DAGUPAN CITY – Intensive production of hatchery-bred milkfish is a necessary technology in order to augment the current shortage of milkfish seeds in the Philippines.

This is according to Westly Rosario, center chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) based here when he presented an Overview of the Philippine Bangus Industry Development Program and Brood stock Development and Hatchery Operations during the first Bangus Industry Congress held here May 1-3 as part of the city’s Bangus Festival.

In 2003, 358 million fry were imported from Taiwan and Indonesia to support the growing milkfish production industry of the country, Rosario said. He added that the production of wild fry is recognized to be decreasing and unless the government will intervene in terms of technology development and transfer, the importation of expensive fry will continue unabated. Fish diseases that maybe introduced accidentally together with the imported fry may also pose a threat in the future, he added.

The central bangus hatchery adopted in the Philippine Bangus Development Program located at the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center located in Bonuan Binloc here has produced from February 26, 2003 to April 30,2003, more than 52 million eggs. It has also dispersed more than 41 million eggs to two municipal bangus hatcheries in Damortis, La Union and Labrador, Pangasinan.

More than 4.6 million milkfish fry has been sold to private individuals, he added.

At present, the facilities of the center are being expanded to increase the capability to produce 50 million milkfish fry and 200 million eggs. The construction was made possible thru the financial assistance of the Department of Agriculture and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

There are two satellite central hatcheries in Calape, Bohol and Guiuan in Eastern Samar. The Bohol hatchery had produced its first one million eggs.

Established municipal hatcheries include: BFAR-LGU-TESDA Dipolog City, Sta Lucia ( Palawan), Sta. Maria (Ilocos Sur), Lucap, Alaminos City (Pangasinan). There are three privately-owned hatcheries established in Labrador (Pangasinan),

Philippine Bangus Development Program

In his presentation, Rosario said the basic requirement to ensure the annual increase in production and widespread development of bangus industry in the country is the availability of good quality seeds. He added that the country is importing about 360 million fry during peak months which is a practice that drains the country of its dollar reserves and exemplifies lost technological opportunities for Filipinos. Rosario said that the Phil-Bangus Development Program aims 1) to attain self-sufficiency in milkfish fry within three to five year, 2) discourage importation of milkfish fry from other countries like Taiwan and Indonesia, 3) produce cheap supply of quality fry in strategic location in the country thru the establishment of milkfish hatcheries, and 4) hopes to generate livelihood opportunities from milkfish breeding, fry production and marketing for Filipinos living in coastal areas.