Tag Archives: SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) launched its first training course on oyster hatchery operations, equipping aquaculture practitioners from three countries with practical hatchery skills to support sustainable oyster farming. Held from 23 June to 2 July 2026 at its Tigbauan Main Station in Iloilo, the 10-day course brought together five participants—two from the Philippines, two from Brunei Darussalam and one from Bangladesh—representing government and research institutions, the academe, and the private aquaculture sector. “One of the biggest challenges facing oyster farming is ensuring a reliable supply of quality seed. The establishment of oyster hatcheries will help lessen our dependence on the fluctuating supply of wild seed which is affected by seasonal spawning, pollution, and other natural …

Automated fish farming run by sensors, artificial intelligence, and powered by the internet and big data is seen to be the next frontier in sustainable production to meet the future demand for seafood.

World-class quality testing can now be enjoyed by fish farmers and researchers for their feeds and water samples at the Centralized Analytical Laboratory (CAL) of SEAFDEC/AQD in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

To surmount the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEAFDEC/AQD migrated its Marine Fish Hatchery (MarFish) training course online and conducted a first session last 14–29 June 2021.

To help lower the price of fish amidst volatile food prices across the country, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) is coming up with a new fish feed formulation that is cost-efficient and eco-friendly.

The coral reefs north of Negros Island are once more teeming with seahorses after a seven-year partnership between researchers and the local island community successfully protected and replenished their wild population. At Molocaboc Island in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, divers assisted in scientific surveys of seahorse populations, technicians maintained seahorse breeding facilities, the local government’s Bantay Dagat (sea patrol) enforced protection, and schools gladly embraced information and educations campaigns. The island is within the Sagay Marine Reserve, a marine protected area chosen as the project site of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) to protect and revive the dwindling population of the tiger tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes).   During assessments done from 2012 to 2013, local divers …

By recycling excess nutrients that would otherwise have been released to the environment, a shrimp farm harvested almost 13 tons of shrimp worth P3.3 million (US$67,694) after just over 4 months of culture.

Aquafarmers from Capiz province, dubbed “the seafood capital of the Philippines,” are feeling the sting of the pandemic as transport restrictions have driven down prices given the difficulties in distributing their milkfish, crab, and shrimp produce.

Dr. Koh-ichiro Mori wrapped up his stint as the outgoing Deputy Chief of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department.

Recognizing the importance of science and research for food security, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department encourages students to pursue research in aquaculture while opening the doors of its laboratory facilities.

Sandfish is one of the most threatened tropical sea cucumbers because of its high price, reaching up to $1,600 per kilogram (approximately P80,800) when processed and dried into trepang or beche-de-mer which are used in exotic Asian cuisine and medicinal products.

The quest for low-cost and eco-friendly aquafeeds received a boost with the recent US$30,800 upgrade of the feed mill of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

To prevent the entry of shrimp diseases, shrimp farmers are advised not to stock their ponds during cold months if their farms are not biosecurity-compliant or fully equipped to prevent the entry of shrimp diseases.

To enhance the capacity of local high school science teachers, a training on research methodology and technical writing was organized with funding support from the Government of Japan.

An international training course on small-scale inland freshwater aquaculture from 5 to 23 August 2019 was conducted by SEAFDEC/AQD

Due to the growing popularity of mangrove crab as an aquaculture commodity, SEAFDEC/AQD conducted several training courses on mangrove crab culture.

An award-winning technology for algae harvesting is now available in the Philippines, boosting efforts to reduce the cost of producing fish fry in hatcheries through the use of algal paste.

Dr. Maria Lourdes Aralar presents her research on giant freshwater prawn during the 27th Dean Domiciano K. Villaluz (DKV) Memorial Lecture last 11 July 2019.

As part of SEAFDEC/AQD’s anniversary celebrations, a Farmers’ Forum and Aquaculture Clinic were held for fish farmers and the private sector on 10 July 2019 at SEAFDEC/AQD’s Multi-Purpose Hall in Tigbauan, Iloilo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Three Fijians searched the world over and found the platform they needed for learning the culture of the prized commodity at SEAFDEC/AQD in Iloilo, Philippines.