SEAFDEC/AQD Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center | Aquaculture Department
PANABO City, Davao del Norte – Various aspects of milkfish culture and production were discussed in a free four-day on-site training course from 15 to 18 October 2019 at the National Mariculture Center (NMC) here.
The training is part of a collaboration between the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region XI.
Forty fishpond and fish cage operators, technicians, private sectors, LGUs, and BFAR staff who attended came from the different provinces of Region XI: Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostella Valley, Davao Occidental, and Davao City.
This free course is part of the continuing projects under the Joint Mission for Accelerated Technology Transfer Program (JMANTTP) of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) led by its Chief, Mr. Dan D. Baliao.
At the opening ceremonies, Dr. Jericardo Mondragon, the chief of the National Mariculture Center welcomed the participants, followed by Atty. Rachel Mernil Bacera of BFAR NMC who delivered the opening remarks in behalf of Ms. Fatima M. Idris, the regional director of BFAR XI.
An overview of aquaculture including the different culture commodities, polyculture and hatchery-nursery-grow-out culture as well as updates on the status of the legislated hatcheries that are to be constructed all over the Philippines was given by Dr. Roger Edward Mamauag, head of the Technology Verification and Extension Division (TVED) while Ms. Ma. Irene Legaspi, associate researcher, talked about the biology, broodstock management and seed production of milkfish, as well as the proper hatchery operations.
Pond culture, proper pond preparation and natural food production in grow-out ponds was discussed by Ms. Shangrilla Seposo, technical assistant, while Mr. Victor Emmanuel Estilo, the head of the Dumangas Brackishwater Station of SEAFDEC, lectured on the nursery and grow-out culture of milkfish in ponds.
Cage farming was discussed by Mr. Michael Tesorero, a technical assistant assigned at the Igang Marine Station of the department whereas Dr. Mamauag also talked on the same day about the feeding management and nutritional requirements of milkfish.
On the third day, 17 October, Ms. Janice Genilza, also a technical assistant, discussed about water quality management and biosecurity measures and protocols for hatcheries and grow-out farms while Dr. Eleanor Tendencia lectured on fish health management in view of the different diseases that may occur in fish farms.
The last topic was about cost and return analysis which was given by Dr. Nerissa Salayo, head of the socio-economics section of SEAFDEC.
The last day of the training started with practical sessions including the proper harvest, transport and stocking of fry by Mr. Hanani Torilla. This was followed by the monitoring of physico-chemical parameters in the culture water by Ms. Janice Genilza and Ms. Shangrilla Seposo.
