World Aquaculture - December 2014

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12 DECEMBER 2014 • WORLD AQUACULTURE •
sector to recover from a contraction in growth the previous year
(BAS 2014). It has had an average annual growth rate in production
volume of 8.6 percent from 1997 to 2008, and the production value
is now nearly triple the amount in 1996 (BAS 2014, CountrySTAT
Philippines 2012).
Philippine aquaculture involves many species and farming
systems. As of 2007, there are 16 reported aquaculture species,
among which four are considered most important: seaweeds,
milkfish Chanos chanos, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and
tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (BFAR 2011, Sumagsay-Chavoso
2007). In 2011, seaweed was the greatest contributor to production
at 70.6 percent (1.84 million t); followed by milkfish, 14.3 percent
(372,580 t); tilapia, 9.9 percent (257,385 t); shrimps and prawns, 1.9
percent (50,159 t); and others, 3.3 percent (87,162 t) (BFAR 2011).
Seaweeds. There are two groups of farmed seaweeds in the
Philippines, those which are extracted for industrial chemicals,
such as Eucheuma spp., and edible species, mainly Caulerpa spp.
Research on new seaweed strains (Kappaphycus spp.) has been
undertaken in 2008 to generate fast-growing, disease-resistant
seaweeds for commercial farming (SEAFDEC/AQD 2008). The
Philippines is the world’s largest producer of farmed Eucheuma
(BFAR-PHILMINAQ 2007).
Milkfish. Locally known as bangus, milkfish is the country’s
national fish, having a high level of consumer acceptance and
the largest share of farmed foodfish production. In 2001-2005,
the Philippines was consistently the top milkfish producer in the
world, and has increased growth rate over the recent years (BFAR
2008). Meanwhile, milkfish processing is a growing industry in
the country. Fish are deboned before they undergo marinating
or smoking to make themmore palatable to the current younger
generation, who are often deterred by its bony features. “Boneless
bangus,” as it is called, is a uniquely popular Philippine product
(Yap et al. 2007).
Tilapia. Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) was first
introduced to the Philippines from Thailand in 1950. Nile tilapia (O.
niloticus) was first introduced in 1972 and has since gained wide
acceptance among farmers and consumers (Yap 1999). It is the main
tilapia species cultured in the Philippines and in 2013 the country
Fish pens using bamboo poles for enclosure at SEAFDEC/AQD, Binangonan Freshwater
station, Rizal, Philippines. Photo by J.A. Ragaza.
Lake-based cages at SEAFDEC/AQD, Binangonan Freshwater station, Rizal,
Philippines. Photo by J.A. Ragaza.
swamplands, fishponds, lakes, rivers and reservoirs (Yap 1999,
BFAR 2011).
With its extensive aquatic resources, the country was the fifth
top fish producer in the world in 2010. However, total production
has decreased at a rate of 3.6 percent, from 5.16 million t in 2010
to 4.97 million t in 2011. Nonetheless, total export value was US$
871 million while import value was US $217 million, leaving a
positive trade balance of US$ 654 million. Overall, the fishery sector
contributed 1.9 percent (US$ 4.23 billion) and 2.2 percent (US$ 3.02
billion) at current and constant prices respectively of the country’s
GDP (US$ 224.79 billion at current prices and US$ 136.79 billion at
constant prices) (BFAR 2010a, BFAR 2011).
Annual performance of Philippine fisheries is attributed to
three subsectors: municipal (small-scale) fisheries, commercial
fisheries and aquaculture. Municipal and commercial sectors are
distinguished by fishing location and vessel capacity—the municipal
sector involves capture operations in inland and coastal areas
with or without the use of a vessel not exceeding 3 gross t, while
commercial fisheries is done in offshore waters using vessels of at
least 3 gross t. Aquaculture is defined as the cultivation and farming
of aquatic plants and animals in inland, coastal and marine areas
(FAO 2001).
Among the three subsectors, aquaculture made the greatest
contribution to fish production in 2011, with 52.4 percent (2.61
million t), followed by the municipal sector with 26.8 percent (1.33
million t) and commercial sector with 20.8 percent (1.03 million t)
(BFAR 2011).
Status of Philippine Aquaculture
Philippine aquaculture can be traced to the fourteenth century,
starting with the use of traditional, low-density pond culture
of milkfish (Lopez 2006). Only in the 1940s was aquaculture
recognized as an important industry, with 20,000 t of production,
and since then has grown rapidly (Yap 1999). Total aquaculture
production has increased from 0.29 million t in 1980 to 2.54
million t in 2012 (CountrySTAT Philippines 2012), comprising 42.5
percent of total fisheries output in 2013. Its steady growth, together
with increased commercial fishery production, allowed the fishery