WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2025 39 Albeit, the shift towards stricter tawalis regulations did not dramatically impact livelihoods. On a brighter note, tilapia aquaculture was so successful that in Laurel, Batangas, a Tilapia festival was established. Celebrating the success of tilapia aquaculture, and the benefits the locals have gained from the practice, this festival showcases tilapia as not only a successful product but also a part of their identity. While not as celebrated, in other municipalities locals have also benefited from tilapia aquaculture. From the year 2012 to 2021, tilapia hatcheries in region IVa increased from 49 to 115, which is the second highest concentration in the country behind region XII (BFAR). Furthermore, this species is the second most important cultured fish in the country, accounting for around 20% of the Philippines aquaculture production. In 2018 the Philippines was the 5th largest producer of Tilapia worldwide behind China, Indonesia, Egypt, and Bangladesh (FAO 2021). Surprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic was described to have led to a “slight” decline in production with the only major pushback being the reduction in sales as well as decline in farm prices (Aqua Culture Asia Pacific 2021). While tilapia was not originally part of the Taal Lake ecosystem, continuous aquaculture practices have led to this species establishing a population within the lake. Guerrero (2014) listed 62 exotic freshwater fishes which were introduced to the country in the years 1905-2013. From this list, O. niloticus was categorized as “beneficial” for its commercial importance. However, a more recent risk invasiveness assessment by Gilles Jr. et al. (2023) suggests that the species, under predicted future climate conditions, is expected to be high in risk of invasiveness due to its resilience. This highlights the importance of the regulations set by the BFAR for aquaculture farms, as well as the need for proper awareness on the possible consequences of having these invasive species cultured alongside endemic life. A closer look We visited Diamond Harvester, a private aquaculture farm in Laurel, Batangas, to gain insights into its operations, the challenges faced, particularly concerning Taal volcano activity, and its relationship with the local community. Here we were welcomed by one of the co-owners, Mr. Rex Salvador, who shared with us his insights and experiences and toured us around the farm (Figure 7). Their operations run on a cycle-based sequence where each fish cage holds around 15 tons of tilapia of the same generation nurtured from when they were still fry. Each cycle lasts up to 7 months and these are done in conjunction with other generations of fish in order to allow for harvests throughout the year rather than having one big harvest every few months or so (Figures 8 and 9). Furthermore, this process was achieved through continuous trial and error. As Mr. Salvador mentioned in the interview, managing a fish farm takes a lot of strong will. When asked about the struggles faced, Mr. Salvador observed “There aren’t many problems concerning storms or volcanic eruptions; the main difficulty is ‘green seas,’ because we cannot prepare for this, and it happens unexpectedly.” The phenomenon that Mr. Salvador considers to be one of the most problematic can be translated into “green seas” or “green water” which alludes to algal blooms in the lake that eventually affect fish livestock. Excess nutrient discharge in the ecosystem stimulates overgrowth of algae leading to subsequent events of oxygen depletion and biotoxin production (Jeanson et al. 2022). Without access to expensive equipment and monitoring of ecological parameters, algal blooms become an unavoidable event leading to the loss of livestock (Figure 10). Despite this, members of the community, regardless of whether they work in fish farms or are wild fishermen, still strive to not only minimize their losses, but also bounce back to sustain their FIGURE 8. Tilapia fingerlings, around 1-2 weeks after acquiring them from the nursery. Photo credit: R. Begtang. FIGURE 9. Sexually mature tilapia, around 5-6 months in age. Photo credit: R. Begtang. The Philippines, being an archipelago, is no stranger to water. In fact, numerous tourist destinations have revolved around such environments like the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Hinatuan Enchanted River, Boracay, and even the numerous islands to visit in Pangasinan. In the city of Batangas, Taal Lake serves not only as a tourist attraction hosting Taal volcano, but also as a site of culture, recreation and livelihood for the locals. With the lake playing such a crucial role in their lives, how is it that there appears to be an endless supply of resources for locals to harvest? (CONTINUED ON PAGE 40)
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