Bangsamoro, SEAFDEC Partner to Boost Lapu-Lapu Farming

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – As the Philippines’ top seaweed producer, Tawi-Tawi is gearing up to further develop its potential in aquaculture. As a major fishing ground, officials recognize that the future sustainability of fish production lies in farming species that are traditionally caught from the wild.

To address this challenge, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM) has partnered with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) to train its extension workers and local fishers in marine fish farming.

“Although we pride ourselves in having abundant wild stocks, if we just keep harvesting them, the time will come when they will be depleted. With that, we are promoting actually aquaculture,” shared Evelyn Martinez, senior Aquaculturist of MAFAR-Tawi-Tawi.

SEAFDEC’s Aquaculture Department (AQD), headquartered in Tigbauan, Iloilo, sent Researcher Ma. Irene Cabanilla-Legaspi and Senior Research Technician Nichole Yap, to conduct a training at the Regional Fisheries Center from 24 to 28 February.

“This training will equip them with the knowledge to assist fisherfolk who want to venture into cage farming of grouper and other marine finfishes,” said Martinez.

The training brought together 31 participants, both from the government and private sector, including fishermen, who learned techniques such as larval rearing tank preparation, induced spawning, egg collection, mass production of live feed, and broodstock management.

GROUPER FARMING

Groupers, locally known as “lapu-lapu,” thrive in Tawi-Tawi’s pristine waters and are a prized commodity in both local and international markets due to its high commercial demand and exquisite taste.

While wild stocks flourish across Tawi-Tawi’s 11 islands, rampant exploitation threatens their sustainability.

Most of the trainees depend on collecting and growing small wild-caught grouper. However, with the training, they learned how they can transition into farming the fish sustainably in floating cages.

SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao expressed his full support for the initiative. He noted that grouper aquaculture technology is also applicable to other marine fish such as snapper, rabbitfish, and milkfish, offering more options for the trainees in the future.

Realizing the impact of this initiative, Martinez added: “The knowledge shared here will eventually spread across all 11 islands and municipalities of Tawi-Tawi.”

This is the second time MAFAR-BARMM has sought SEAFDEC/AQD’s expertise for on-site training, and it was made possible with the support of MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob, Director II for RDE Services, Tong Abas, Provincial Director of MAFAR Tawi-Tawi, Dr. Aidarus Nami, Officer-In-Charge of the Aquaculture Research Division, Labban S. Abdullah, MPA, and RFRC-Center Manager Arlyn Abdulla.