Bangus productivity affected by cold weather

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan , Philippines - A city agriculturist advises bangus (milkfish) growers to observe the feeding habits of their fish this cold season because milkfish tend to be sluggish in a cold environment.

City agriculturist Emma Molina said bangus are less active and eat less when the temperature drops.

The altered feeding habits can affect their growth, therefore requiring more culture days.

The city prides itself as the top producer of bangus in the world.

Councilor Lino Fernandez agreed, pointing to the changing feeding habits of the fish in his farm.

Because of the drop in water temperature, the first feeding time was moved to 11 a.m. to 12 noon when the water surface is warmer.

The next feeding time would be 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., which is also the last for the day because after sunset, the fish stay at the bottom of the pond to keep warm.

“Just like people who curl up in bed and don’t want to get up, bangus behave the same way,” he said.

He said if they throw feeds into the pens earlier, most of the fish stay at the bottom of the pond and only a few swim to the surface to eat.

During the summer, bangus are fed three times a day.

Molina said the metabolism of bangus slows down during the cold season because they do not move much.

She said it is important to make sure that feeds are thrown into the pond only when the fish are ready to eat. Otherwise, the saturated feeds are deposited at the bottom of the pond, lessening the dissolved oxygen in the water and killing the fish.  

Because of the altered feeding habits of bangus during the cold season, growers extend their culture days by 15 to 20 days, sometimes even a month, to achieve the desired size.

Bangus are typically raised for three to four months.

Bangus demand peaks today

Molina said the City Agriculturist Office is monitoring sudden changes in bangus prices because the demand is expected to peak during Christmas, but assured consumers there is enough supply of the fish.

“We can just project and recommend (prices) but we cannot impose,” Molina said.

Jumbo-size bangus is sold wholesale for P105 per kilo and retailed for P108 to P110 per kilo.

Prices have been steady for the past four weeks but are expected to go up once demand picks up.

Recently, consumers have been buying the fish in bulk to give them as gifts or pasalubong. Demand rises again in January when post-holiday diet consists mostly of fish and vegetables.