BFAR's Lake Danao fish farm produces 1 million tilapia fingerlings

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resoures-7 reported that the Lake Danao Freshwater Fish Farm (LDFFF) in Barangay Union, San Francisco town in Camotes Island has reached its annual target of producing one million tilapia fingerlings.

BFAR-7 said this will cater the demand from fish farmers in Cebu Province. 

Tilapia, according to BFAR-7, is considered as one of the major commodities that they seek to increase production to support the aquaculture industry in the country and to boost the food sufficiency measures of the government.

LDFFF, in coordination with BFAR-7 – Cebu Provincial Fishery Office, caters clients from Cebu province, particularly Tilapia growers, Tilapia fishpond owners or fish cage operators.

LDFFF head Expedito Otida said the facility hit the one million-mark last month ahead of the usual, which is commonly achieved by November.

Otida, in a statement released by BFAR-7, said that the facility was able to reach its target on a much earlier date due to the early occurrence of the Southwest monsoon or “Habagat,” which brought moderate weather that was favorable for spawning or breeding.

The LDFFF is one of the eight facilities managed by BFAR-7 that rears red and black Tilapia fry and manages a broodstock, a group of sexually mature adult fish that are bred together.

The facility houses huge fish tanks where broodstock of red and black tilapia are placed and its two floating-designed fish cages can also be seen on the said lake.

Meanwhile, BFAR Bohol Provincial Office recently gave 4,500 milkfish or "bangus" fingerlings to Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) fisherfolk association from Barangay Punta Cruz, Maribojoc town for the group's fish cage project.

The giving of fingerlings is earmarked under the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) program, which seeks to "reduce poverty" in fishing communities by providing comprehensive livelihood packages. — FPL (FREEMAN)