Downtrend in capture fisheries makes aquaculture lucrative

AQUACULTURE production is increasing and in fact started to surpass capture fisheries in 2014. The relatively static capture fishery means future increase in world fish supply will be heavily dependent on aquaculture.

The global declining trend of capture fisheries calls for intensified promotion of aquaculture activities and tap potential areas for fish production. “Fish farming has become a lucrativebusiness”, said SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao. “Although it will depend on the species chosen, and the availability of support industries”, he added.

Baliao, however, warned that people who invest in aquaculture should understand the risks and complexities of aquaculture. Technical manpower, training and farming-related information on target species are to be considered.

Further, to address the existing gap between technology and manpower, SEAFDEC/AQD started implementing phase 2 of the Joint Mission for Accelerated Nationwide Technology Transfer and Promotion Program (JMANTTP2) which was envisioned hand-in-hand with the BFAR.

The Program kicked off in Region 12 in Mindanao particularly Kabacan, Kidapawan in Cotabato last February this year. The first on-site training on freshwater aquaculture was attended by seventy-four participants coming from seventeen municipalities in Cotabato.

The next region to avail of the Program will be Region 8 covering Leyte and Samar provinces on May 28-30-27. The topics will be tailor-made to suit the potential of the region which will include multi-species hatchery and culture of fin fishes. BFAR training officers and would-be investors in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, particularly, Guiuan and Lavesares will avail of one-month intensive training in mangrove culture at SEAFDEC Tigbauan Main Station.

Farming technologies for many aquaculture species are now fairly developed for milkfish, giant tiger shrimp, Pacific white shrimp, tilapia and seaweeds. Easy-to-do manuals of these technologies are available at SEAFDEC/AQD. For further information, you may visit our Training and Information Division at its Main Station in Tigbauan, Iloilo.