Aquaculture experts, farmers, academics convene at SEAFDEC/AQD Farmers’ Forum

As part of the 52nd Anniversary Celebration of SEAFDEC/AQD, aquaculture experts, researchers, fish farmers, and members of the academe gathered on 8 July 2025 for the annual Farmers’ Forum held at the Tigbauan Main Station.

The face-to-face forum, offered free of charge, featured a series of lectures, practical sessions, and an aquaculture clinic, all aimed at sharing the latest technologies and addressing real-world challenges in the aquaculture industry.

This year’s lineup included six lectures from both SEAFDEC/AQD specialists and guest experts:

• Grow-out Culture of Pompano in Brackishwater Pond – Mr. Edgar Somblingo (SEAFDEC/AQD)
• Giant Freshwater Prawn Hatchery Operations – Ms. Therese Marie Geanga (SEAFDEC/AQD)
• Single Oyster Hatchery and Nursery Culture – Ms. Marinelle Espino (SEAFDEC/AQD)
• Aquaculture and Next Generation Sequencing – Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel Ferriols (Philippine Genome Center Visayas)
• Shrimp Farming: A Farmer’s Perspective – Atty. Isagani Dionela (Dionela Aquaventures)
• Technology Trends in Philippine Shrimp Farming – Mr. Albert Enriquez (Charoen Pokphand Foods Phils. Corp.)

At the end of the lectures, attendees and speakers also exchanged ideas during the open forum.

Farmers also participated in the Aquaculture Clinic, where they directly consulted SEAFDEC/AQD experts on a wide range of topics including crustaceans (Dr. Joy Huervana); freshwater aquaculture (Dr. Frolan Aya); pond culture (Mr. Edgar Somblingo); mariculture/cage culture (Mr. Michael Tesorero); and soil, water, and proximate analysis (Mr. Kyle Regatalio).

Participants raised questions, presented issues in their farms, and received science-based advice from the department’s aquaculture experts.

This year’s forum also featured hands-on practical sessions on the following topics: Tilapia Masculinization led by Mr. Marwin dela Cruz, Feed Preparation by Mr. Krizzian Hernando, Sample Collection for Disease Detection/Diagnosis by Mr. Demy Catedral, and Induced Spawning of Catfish by Dr. Josefa Tan-Fermin.