News

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), achieved another breakthrough in milkfish farming by harvesting two tons of market-sized fish in just 85 days.

Dan Baliao has been reappointed as Chief of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), an international aquaculture research organization based in Iloilo, Philippines.

The 3rd Aquaculture Research Talk, with the theme “Bridging Science to the People” featured inspiring insights from SEAFDEC/AQD experts to encourage on-the-job trainees pursuing fisheries, aquaculture, and other related courses.

Aquaculture experts, researchers, fish farmers, and members of the academe gathered on 8 July 2025 for SEAFDEC/AQD's annual Farmers’ Forum held at the Tigbauan Main Station in Iloilo, Philippines.

The Philippines has the opportunity to build a high-value aquaculture industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually by farming the tropical rock lobster.

Chief Dan Baliao underscored SEAFDEC/AQD's transformation from a traditional R&D center into a proactive force in aquaculture development during the 52nd Anniversary program.

Researchers from SEAFDEC/AQD showcased their research results during the 13th International Phycological Congress 2025, held from 8 to 13 June 2025 in Panglao, Bohol.

A team from SEAFDEC/AQD, led by Scientist Dr. Sheryll Avanceña, participated in the Giant Prawn 2025 Conference and Exposition held on 8–11 June 2025 in Huzhou, China.

Researchers from SEAFDEC/AQD and Japanese experts convened on 5 June 2025 at the Tigbauan Main Station for discussions on the next phase of collaborative research under the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS).

SEAFDEC/AQD Associate Scientist Dr. Joana Joy de la Cruz-Huervana and her co-authors considered Gammarus nipponensis as an ideal model organism for studying the impacts of habitat fragmentation and evolutionary diversification on the genes of amphipods.

SEAFDEC/AQD took part in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-TRUEFISH Project’s Regional Study Tour on Aquatic Organism Health and Aquaculture Biosecurity.

SEAFDEC/AQD ran its first 2025 training course on sandfish (𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘢) seed production, nursery, and management from 28 April to 13 May 2025.

Brunei Darussalam’s Department of Fisheries (DOF) enrolled two staff in SEADEC/AQD’s customized training course on Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis Using PCR from 21 to 25 April 2025 in Iloilo, Philippines.

Dr. Sheryll Santander-Avanceña and her team at SEAFDEC/AQD, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Visayas, developed a formulated feed for the Indian white shrimp called the “Special Feed for Maturing Penaeus indicus Broodstock,” which was granted a utility model by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Another batch of personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) trained at SEAFDEC/AQD on milkfish aquaculture from 17 to 28 March 2025 as part of the Philippines’ push to boost local production. The 12-day program gathered 14 personnel from various BFAR offices and facilities, including the Central Office and regional offices from Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao), 12 (Soccsksargen), and 13 (Caraga). At the opening program, BFAR-3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz emphasized the importance of a skilled workforce to support the National Bangus Development Program (NBDP) of the Philippines. “With this training, I hope we can reach our target and make the country self-sufficient in fry production,” he told the trainees. Intensive training …

SEAFDEC/AQD, an intergovernmental organization promoting sustainable aquaculture across Southeast Asia, welcomed Dr. Takahiro Sajiki as its new Deputy Chief.

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – From 12–14 March 2025, government personnel, experts, and researchers from across Southeast Asia convened to tackle key challenges in aquaculture and strengthen regional collaboration.

The commercial production of pompano in the Philippines may not be as big as that of tilapia or milkfish, but it is developing. And with development comes challenges. There are increasing reports of sea lice infecting pompano grown in fish cages.

Three fisheries biologists from Thailand’s Department of Fisheries (DOF) enhanced their skills in milkfish aquaculture through a specialized training course at SEAFDEC/AQD held from 3 to 14 March 2025.

A study, led by SEAFDEC/AQD Scientist Dr. Leobert de la Peña, demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics and a disinfectant against two of the deadliest shrimp diseases: acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and luminescent vibriosis.