SEAFDEC/AQD Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center | Aquaculture Department
SEAFDEC/AQD is taking strides toward the commercial success of the snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii) through a partnership with the private sector in an initiative aimed at turning this high-value fish into a viable and sustainable aquaculture venture in the Philippines.
Locally known as “apahan” or “dawis lawin,” pompano is prized internationally for its delicate, pearly-white flesh and premium market price. However, local production remains limited due to the lack of fingerling supply and sea lice infestations.
To address this, SEAFDEC/AQD has been conducting extensive research on pompano since 2007 and intensified efforts to scale up its production. The institution also recently established a pompano hatchery at its main station in Tigbauan, Iloilo, with a total tank volume of 80 cubic meters.
The facility not only supports research activities but also supplies fingerlings to interested fish farmers, bridging the supply gap that has long hindered commercial production.
SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao said that their goal is to demonstrate that pompano farming can be both “profitable and sustainable.”
“It’s a good alternative to milkfish farming since it uses the same cage setup and techniques familiar to local growers, but can have higher market returns,” he added.
Pompano can reach 250–500 grams in just four to five months and fetch market price ranging from ₱300–₱500 per kilogram depending on size and quality. This makes it an appealing choice for farmers who want to expand their operations and earn more income.
This potential was recently showcased in a collaborative grow-out trial between SEAFDEC/AQD and a private partner in San Antonio, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras under the Joint Mission for Accelerated Nationwide Technology Transfer Program (JMANTTP) of the research center.
Last October 2, the project produced 1,242 kilograms of pompano after 4.8 months of grow-out culture and achieved a 91% survival rate and an average body weight of 456 grams per fish.
The fish were reared in 10m x 10m x 2m floating cages stocked at 20 pieces per cubic meter and fed with commercial feeds. Fingerlings, initially weighing around five grams, were sourced from SEAFDEC/AQD’s hatchery.
The grow-out run, the first under JMANTTP, achieved a feed conversion ratio of 2.05 over the 172-day culture period. This means 2.05 kilograms of feed were consumed to produce 1 kilogram of fish.
“Through collaboration with private partners, we aim to accelerate technology transfer and promote wider adoption of pompano farming among local producers,” Baliao added.
This successful trial marks the first under SEAFDEC/AQD’s JMANTTP Program and underscores the importance of partnerships in advancing aquaculture innovation.
