SEAFDEC/AQD supports pilot oyster culture initiative in Estancia, Iloilo

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Text and photos by Nyra Armada

An international aquaculture research center is implementing a pilot initiative to support the development of oyster farming in Barangay Bayuyan, Estancia, Iloilo.

The Southeast Asian Fisheries and Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) is carrying out the study “Mass Production of Hatchery-Reared Single Spat Oyster (Magallana bilineata)” with funding support from the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Region 6, under their counterpart “Shellfish Aquaculture for Rural Advancement and Progress” (SARAP) project.

Hatchery-grown single spat oysters were produced at the SEAFDEC/AQD Oyster Hatchery in Tigbauan, Iloilo and transferred to the Dumangas Brackishwater Station of the research center once they reach at least 3 millimeters in shell length.

There, they were nursed over a four-month period using floating bags and wellers on the pond. The oysters were then deployed to the culture area managed by the Bayuyan Small Fisherfolk Association in Estancia for grow-out using floating bags measuring 80 × 35 × 10 centimeters.

According to SEAFDEC/AQD Associate Researcher Ms. Marinelle Espino, the system is intended to support the culture of single oysters and achieve uniform growth and sizes, deeper-cupped oysters, and streamline handling and grading.

Espino added that this method of oyster culture is expected to improve the quality of oysters and help the fisherfolk access premium markets.

The Bayuyan Small Fisherfolk Association has long relied on traditional methods to produce clustered oysters which are sold by sack or tubs, in contrast to single oysters which can be sold by piece and at higher prices.

The oysters are currently in the grow-out phase, with initial harvests projected within six to twelve months from stocking, once they reach an estimated shell length of 60–90 millimeters.

According to SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao, the pilot initiative hopes to demonstrate how science-based hatchery technologies can help strengthen oyster farming practices and improve resilience for fisherfolk organizations. Results from the pilot will be evaluated to guide future oyster aquaculture interventions and technology transfer efforts in coastal communities.