Round scad broodstock collected at Hamtic, Antique

THE marine fish research team of SEAFDEC/AQD continued collecting round scad (locally known as galunggong or tamudyos at Hamtic, Antique on 10 to 12 May 2023 to stock up on breeders and refine transport strategies.

The team partnered with a local fishing company after receiving approval to operate a purse seine from Hamtic Mayor Julius Pacificador.

Broodstock collected on 10 May were immediately transported by sea and land to experimental facilities at SEAFDEC/AQD’s Tigbauan Main Station. The following night, collected broodstock were acclimated in temporary net cages mounted on an outrigger boat, before making the 2-hour trip to Tigbauan the following day.

SEAFDEC/AQD successfully spawned the round scad in 2021 and grew limited numbers to early-fingerling size in 2022. Ongoing broodstock collection aims to scale up experiments and achieve commercially-viable numbers of fingerlings for grow-out.