Introduction to Aquaculture

What is Aquaculture?

• Aquaculture is the breeding, rearing, and harvesting

of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all
types of water environments.
• Aquaculture produces food and other commercial
products.
Types of Aquaculture
• Freshwater aquaculture

• Marine aquaculture

• Brackish aquaculture
Branches of Marine Aquaculture

Marine aquaculture encompasses the following organisms

a) finfish
b) shellfish
c) crustaceans
d) aquatic plants and microalgae
 Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Fisheries are concerned with fish or
shellfish. They mainly deal with catching,
processing, and selling fish
• Fisheries are solely related to catching wild
fish or raising and harvesting fish through
aquaculture or fish farming
 Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Fisheries are concerned with fish or
shellfish. They mainly deal with catching,
processing, and selling fish
• Fisheries are solely related to catching wild
fish or raising and harvesting fish through
aquaculture or fish farming
Aquaculture Engineering

• Concerned with the design and development of

effective aquacultural systems for marine and freshwater
facilities.
• It is a multidisciplinary field of engineering and that aims to
solve technical problems associated with farming aquatic
vertebrates, invertebrates, and algae.
Importance of Aquaculture System
• It is estimated that the world's population
will be 9.7 billion by 2050. According to the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
that means that the world's food
production will need to increase by 70%.
• Food production is a leading sector that is
responsible for impacts to the
environment, accounting for about 25% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of
freshwater use, and 80% of habitat loss.
Importance of Aquaculture System
• Wild fisheries and aquaculture can provide a
source of high-quality, healthy animal
protein that generally have a smaller land,
carbon, and water use footprint than
terrestrial animal agriculture.
• Aquaculture provides an alternative food
system that can produce high-quality animal
protein that, when done in the right ways,
can have a sustainable footprint
 Food Security
• Seafood from fisheries and aquaculture
provide about 3.3 billion people with almost
20% of their average intake of animal protein.
• Fish and fish products are recognized as some
of the healthiest foods on the planet as a
source of long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids, a
low fat source of heart-healthy protein, and
other micronutrients such as calcium and iron
 Environmental Footprint
• Finfish and other types of aquaculture can
have a lower environmental footprint than
most meat production in terms of freshwater
use, CO2 emissions, and land use.
 Livelihood
• On a global scale in 2018, aquaculture employed
20.5 million people with 85% of those in Asia,
where aquaculture is a prominent industry.

• In emerging countries, small-scale aquaculture is

particularly relevant to safeguarding livelihoods
because it may provide the principal source of
income for local communities where alternative
employment may be limited or lacking
Survey of Aquaculture Systems in the Philippines
• Aquaculture in the Philippines has a long history and
involves many species and farming practices in diverse
ecosystems
• Most of the production comes from the farming of
seaweed, milkfish, tilapia, shrimp, carp, oyster and mussel
• The global position of the Philippines in aquaculture
production has fallen steadily from 4th place in 1985 to
12th place today
History And General Overview

• The earliest fishponds were brackish water growing

milkfish, using naturally occurring fry from tidal
waters.

• Aquaculture in the Philippines was virtually

synonymous with milkfish culture, specifically in
brackish water ponds, relying totally on natural food
History And General Overview

• Shrimp has always been an incidental harvest in brackish

water ponds for milkfish.

• Shrimp became top marine product export from the

Philippines, earning at its peak in 1992 approximately US$
300 000 000. However, disease problems in the early 1990s
caused a significant decline in production.
 History And General Overview

• Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) was

introduced into the Philippines from Thailand in 1950.

• In the late 1970s and early 1980s, commercial tilapia

production was advanced by the development of technologies
for the breeding of Nile tilapia in floating net enclosures and
the production of Nile tilapia in floating cages with feeding.
 History And General Overview

• Common carp (Cyrpinus carpio ) was introduced into the

Philippines from Hong Kong in 1915. Their culture in fish pens
and cages started in the second half of the 1980s.

• Seaweeds belonging to the genus Caulerpa are all eaten fresh

in many parts of the Philippines. C. lentillifera was the first
species to be commercially cultivated in brackish water
fishponds in Mactan Island in the early 1950s.
 Human Resources

• According to the 2002 Census of Fisheries of the National

Statistics Office, there was a total of 226 195 aquaculture
operators working in: fishpond operation (126 894), seaweed
farming (73 549), fish pen operation (5 325), oyster farming
(3 041), mussel farming (2 422) and others (14 964). Seaweed
industry leaders estimate that almost 180 000 families are
directly dependent on seaweed faming.
 Human Resources

• A 1996 study of tilapia grow-out pond operators showed that

farmers had an average age of 47. Small farm (below 4.43 ha)
operators are on average younger (44 years old), with a high
percentage 30 40 years old. Large farm (4.43 ha and above)
operators are older (51 years old).
• The average number of completed years of education of small and
large farm operators is 10 and 11 years, respectively. About 41
percent of the large operators and 47 percent of the small
operators have a college degree.
 Human Resources

• A 2001 study of shrimp (Penaeus monodon ) brackish

water pond operators in Pampanga (where 40 percent of
shrimp is produced) revealed that a large majority (84
percent) consider fish farming to be their primary
professional activity.
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• In 2002 the total harvest area for milkfish production was 281 727
ha. The five major provinces for production were Balucan,
Pangasinan, Capiz, Iliolo and Negros Occidental.
• Most milkfish production was from brackish water fishponds (84.37
percent) and the remainder from marine fish pens (3.91 percent),
marine fish cages (3.62 percent), freshwater fish pens (3.56
percent), brackish water fish pens (1.89 percent), brackish water
fish cages (1.40 percent), freshwater fish cages (1.23 percent) and
freshwater fishponds (0.01 percent).
•
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• In 2002 the total harvest area for milkfish production was 281 727
ha. The five major provinces for production were Balucan,
Pangasinan, Capiz, Iliolo and Negros Occidental.
• Most milkfish production was from brackish water fishponds (84.37
percent) and the remainder from marine fish pens (3.91 percent),
marine fish cages (3.62 percent), freshwater fish pens (3.56
percent), brackish water fish pens (1.89 percent), brackish water
fish cages (1.40 percent), freshwater fish cages (1.23 percent) and
freshwater fishponds (0.01 percent).
•
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• The total harvest area in 2002 for shrimp production was

77 172 ha. The five major producing provinces in 2002
were Pampanga, Zamboanga Sur/Sibugay, Lanao del
norte, Bataan and Bohol.
•
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• The total harvest area in 2002 for shrimp production was

77 172 ha. The five major producing provinces in 2002
were Pampanga, Zamboanga Sur/Sibugay, Lanao del
norte, Bataan and Bohol.
•
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• Tilapia production in 2002 covered a total harvest area of

30 221 ha.
• Most tilapia production came from freshwater fishponds
(53.88 percent) and the remainder from freshwater fish
cages (37.85 percent), brackish water fishponds (6.75
percent), freshwater fish pens (1.40 percent), brackish
water fish cages (0.06 percent), brackish water fish pens
(0.04 percent) and marine fish cages (0.01 percent).
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• Tilapia production in 2002 covered a total harvest area of

30 221 ha.
• Most tilapia production came from freshwater fishponds
(53.88 percent) and the remainder from freshwater fish
cages (37.85 percent), brackish water fishponds (6.75
percent), freshwater fish pens (1.40 percent), brackish
water fish cages (0.06 percent), brackish water fish pens
(0.04 percent) and marine fish cages (0.01 percent).
Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• In 2002 the total harvest area for carp production was

3 519 ha.
• Most production of carp came from freshwater fish pens
(96.31 percent) and the remainder from freshwater fish
cages (2.50 percent) and freshwater fishponds (1.19
percent).
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• In 2002 the total harvest area for carp production was

3 519 ha.
• Most production of carp came from freshwater fish pens
(96.31 percent) and the remainder from freshwater fish
cages (2.50 percent) and freshwater fishponds (1.19
percent).
 Farming Systems Distribution And
Characteristics

• In 2001 the top five seaweed-producing provinces were

Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Palawan, Zamboanga City and Bohol. The
total harvest area for seaweed was 21 281 ha. All
seaweed production came from open coastal waters.
• In 2002 all oyster and mussel production came from open
coastal waters.
 The Seven Major Aquaculture Species in the Philippines

1. Seaweed (Kappaphycus and Eucheuma spp.)

2. Milkfish (Chanos chanos ).
3. Tilapia (Nile tilapia).
4. Shrimp (giant tiger prawn).
5. Carp (bighead carp).
6. Oyster (slipper cupped oyster ).
7. Mussel (green mussel).
 Practices/Systems of Culture
• Aquaculture in the Philippines is carried out
in diverse ecosystems (freshwater, brackish
water and marine) using various culture
systems with different degrees of
intensification. For example, milkfish is
cultured in brackish water ponds, fish pens in
freshwater
 Practices/Systems of Culture
• Milkfish is cultured in brackish water ponds,
fish pens in freshwater lakes, fish pens in
shallow bays, fixed or floating lake-based
cages, and sea-based cages.
• Shrimp farming follows the traditional, semi-
intensive and intensive system
• Most tilapia production comes from
freshwater ponds and cages
 Practices/Systems of Culture
• Most of the carp recently produced is
bighead carp from freshwater pens of Laguna
Lake, the country's largest lake.
• Oyster and mussel farming takes place in
open coastal waters. The methods commonly
used for oyster culture are bottom, stake and
hanging either from a rack or raft-rack
 Practices/Systems of Culture
• For seaweed production farming methods
can be classified under two: farming in
shallow waters and farming in deep waters.
• The stake or bottom method is used in
shallow waters. Monoline, raft and spider
web methods are used in deep waters.
• Farming in shallow waters is the simplest and
the cheapest to start with.
Production

Major Species Production (tonnes)

Seaweeds 894 857
Milkfish 232 161
Tilapia 122 390
Shrimp 35 493
Carp 18 151
Oyster 12 569
Mussel 11 646
Others 10 908

Total 1 338 175

Production

Major Species Production (tonnes)

Seaweeds 894 857
Milkfish 232 161
Tilapia 122 390
Shrimp 35 493
Carp 18 151
Oyster 12 569
Mussel 11 646
Others 10 908

Total 1 338 175

The Institutional Framework

• The BFAR under the Department of Agriculture (DA) is the

national government agency responsible for the development,
conservation, management, protection and utilization of
fisheries resources according to the Philippines Fisheries Code
of 1998.
• The Local Government Code of 1991 and Fisheries Code
transferred government supervision and licensing of all types
of aquaculture to the Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Institutional Framework

• Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils

(FARMCs) advise the national government and LGUs on
fisheries policy and planning.
• The government has been increasingly engaging non-
government organizations and people's organizations
(POs) on fisheries co-management.
The Institutional Framework

• The participation of the business sector in the

development and management of the aquaculture
industry has not yet been institutionalised or
strengthened. There are several organizations
involved in aquaculture
The Governing Regulations

• The Philippine Environment Code (1988) provides the

foundation for all measure]es dealing with the
Philippine's natural environment, encompassing the
management of air quality, water, land use, natural
resources and waste, provides a chapter on fisheries
and aquatic resources and requires the government
to establish a system of rational exploitation thereof.
The Governing Regulations

• The Philippine Fisheries Code (1998) provides for the

development, management, conservation and
utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources. The
Code integrates all laws that are relevant to these
issues. Chapter II, Article III (Sections 45-57) of the
Code deals with aquaculture.
The Governing Regulations

• The Fisheries Code falls under the jurisdiction of the

Department of Agriculture. Within the Department, the
Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is
responsible for setting policies and formulating
standards and for exercising overall supervision. The
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources (BFAR)
is the agency tasked with the management and
development of fisheries and aquatic resources.
The Governing Regulations

• Another basic act that is relevant to aquaculture is the

Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (1997) , which
prescribes the measures to modernize the agriculture and
fisheries sectors in order to enhance their profitability
• The Fisheries Code prioritizes the management, conservation
and protection of fisheries and aquatic resources, the
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act places priority
on increase in production and encourages a rapid shift
towards industrialization.
The Governing Regulations

• The
Reorganization Act of the Department of Environmen
t and Natural Resources (DENR) (1987)
establishes the Environmental Management Bureau
(EMB), encompassing the former National
Environmental Protection Council, the former
National Pollution Control Commission and the
former Environmental Center of the Philippines.
The Governing Regulations

• Establishes a Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. The

Fisheries Code contains a number of provisions in which the
jurisdictions of BFAR and EMB intersect - the classification of
rare, threatened or endangered species of aquatic flora and
fauna or the classification of fishery areas, or implied, such
as the formulation of an integrated coastal management
framework and the setting, monitoring and evaluation of
water quality standards.
Applied Research, Education, And Training

• The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC AQD) in the Philippines
fills in many of the gaps in Philippine aquaculture research.
Through a system of consultation and discussion with the
industry and the local aquaculture R&D sector, SEAFDEC
AQD sets priorities for its research and avoids duplication
of work with local institutions. SEAFDEC AQD research
outputs are published mostly in international journals (Yap,
1999).
Trends, Issues, And Development

• From 1997 to 2001, aquaculture grew by an average

of 6.4 percent annually, compared to 0.72 percent for
municipal fisheries and 2.6 percent for commercial
fisheries (Cruz, 2004). Seaweed production grew by
an average of 7.04 percent during the period 1998 -
2002 (BAS, 2004e). The steady growth in seaweed
production is attributed to the following (Mozales,
2003):
Trends, Issues, And Development
Carrageenin is market driven, annual market growth from 5 percent to 15 percent, more
applications are being discovered, hence increasing demand.

Farming cost & investment is low and return of investment is high.

The Philippines has the best quality raw materials.

The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) is active, identifies problems
and finds solutions and works closely with government
Trends, Issues, And Development
• The present high growth in milkfish production can possibly be
maintained due to the increasing use of sea cages and sea pens for
milkfish culture. The growing popularity of value-added milkfish
products in de-boned (or boneless) and smoked forms and their
export potential will help to maintain the current growth pattern.
The emergence of large commercial milkfish hatcheries in the
Philippines is a positive development which can give the milkfish
industry the extra needed push (Yap, 2002b).
• The success of tilapia production in the Philippines is attributed to
the following (Guerrero 1994):
Trends, Issues, And Development
Government support for research and extension.

Government moratorium on tilapia price and market intervention.

Cooperation between Philippines government and private sector and among

researchers.
Cooperation and support of many international organizations.

Introduction of new breeding stock (Nile tilapia).

Trends, Issues, And Development

• Continued growth of the aquaculture industry is threatened

by factors such as considerably lower margins for farmers
and increasing cost of farmed fish compared to chicken and
pork. A serious obstacle to the aquaculture industry's efforts
to become more competitive is the very erratic market
prices brought about by the seasonal harvest of wild fish
(Cruz, 2004). Over the last 20 years, the ranking of the
Philippines in world aquaculture production fell steadily
from 4th place in 1985 to 12th place.
Trends, Issues, And Development

• The Philippine Government and private sector are

currently preparing the Comprehensive National Fisheries
Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP). One of its
components is Aquaculture Development and
Management. Given international trade and competition,
there is a need for the Philippine aquaculture industry to
adopt a CNFIDP that is global in perspective (Cruz, 2004).
The following recommendations are made (Cruz, 2004):
Trends, Issues, And Development
Have a market-oriented framework of development.
Develop new markets, both for local and for export.
Promote technologies that will bring down production cost.
Develop new species that are cheap to produce.
Develop the processing and value-adding industries.
Rationalize fisheries ordinances in support of the CNFIDP.
Benchmark strategies against other countries.
Promote and support private sector leadership and initiatives.