The Tough Tilapia

The tough tilapia by Maria Rowena Briones

The Philippines is 9th in the over all ranking of aquaculture production in the world. Indeed, among the fisheries sector in the country, it is also the best performing sector during the last 15 years.

The aquaculture industry has grown tremendously with the onset of hatchery and culture techniques. These developments are fuelled by the need for alternative sources of marine products as our supply from natural fish stocks is nearly depleted and yet the demand is continuously increasing due to increase in human population.

Tilapia is an introduced species in our inland waters. The first strain, Oreochromis mossambicus, was introduced in 1950. To date, there are five additional strains Oreochromis. aureus, Oreochromis niloticus, T. zilii, red tilapia and the genetically improved farm tilapia. They contributed in the development of a strong aquaculture industry since 1972.

At present, tilapia dominates the fish population in our fresh water areas. This is mainly because of its capacity to reproduce and grow quickly, and to survive in a low oxygen environment such as stagnant ponds and fish pens. They are also known to be disease-resistant and can adapt to low quality inputs and varied environmental conditions.

Aside from the high growth rate and adaptability of tilapia, one of the reasons why its production is gaining momentum is the acceptability of tilapia as a source of protein in the diet of all the social classes in the local and international markets.

However, aquaculture, they say, is a double-edged sword, it solves our economic problems on one hand but exacerbates our environmental problems on the other. This is true for growing tilapia, as inputs are intensified and stocking densities are increased to maximize production and increase profit.

In some lakes, proliferation of tilapia led to the depletion of weak indigenous species. Also, the increase in the number of fish cages and pens in shallow lakes and rivers alter the natural productivity of these bodies of water. The uneaten feeds of tilapia become toxic substances, like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, for other fish stocks. Too many cages also hinder waves and water current leading to lake euthrophication or the decrease of dissolved oxygen in the water. These conditions are rampant in the lakes of Sampaloc and Mohicop, Laguna, Taal, Batangas and Sebu.

Despite these threats, subsistence fisherfolk consider tilapia as a blessing as it increases their catch and their income. This is also true for the middle class fish cage and fishpond operators. Because they can afford the inputs needed to increase profitability of the industry, they look forward to tapping markets abroad by venturing on big scale tilapia production.

The government is promoting increased productivity in aquaculture, as any increase in fish production on our part could only come from this sector. Included in the program for the aquaculture sector is increasing the productivity of brackish water and freshwater fishponds, sustainable development of swamp and marshland fisheries and marine sea cages.

Since research in fisheries is a crucial element in the development, management, conservation, and protection of our fisheries and aquatic resource, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute was created under the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (RA 8550).

Dr. Ruben Sevilleja, director of the Freshwater Aquaculture Center in Central Luzon State University, in his paper on small scale aquaculture and adoption of genetics-based tilapia technology, that he presented in the Agri-Policy Forum disclosed that there are only few research on the structure and characteristics of the aquaculture industry thus they can only surmise who are the main beneficiaries of the growth of the industry are. He emphasized the need for further research on the role of subsistence aquaculture in the Philippines and how farmers can benefit from the latest aquaculture technologies.

This forum was sponsored by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. BAR plays a pivotal role in the over all monitoring of research activities of DA agencies involved in fisheries. Monitoring is especially necessary in the trade offs that we do to meet the demands for fish and the limitations of our environment where we draw the resources that make us live.

Sources: Fishery Country Profile of the Philippines. Food and Agriculture Organization Fisheries Department (http://www.fao.org); Tilapia and the Environment. (http://www.american.edu); Small scale aquaculture and adoption of genetics-based tilapia technology. Paper presented in the 14th Agri-Policy Forum on Socio-Economic and Policy Issues in the Aquaculture sector held last May 6, 2002 by Dr. Ruben Sevilleja; The impact of tilapia fishery and culture in the Philippines: Report on rapid rural appraisal of DEGITA project. Paper presented in the 14th Agri-Policy Forum on Socio-Economic and Policy Issues in the Aquaculture sector held last May 6, 2002 by Dr. Melchor Tayanem.