Researches on marine finfish and shrimp farming

The Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is one of the four regional lead centres participating in the regional activities of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia (NACA) to carry out regional research, training and information activities. In formulating the research activities for the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines (RLCP), FAO has assigned a task force to prepare viable research programme in consultation with the research leaders of the Centre. The task force also held a number of consultation with some of the leading fish pond operators, officers of the government and University. The programmes for the Regional Aquaculture Lead Centres in Asia is contained in the document ADCP/REF/80/14 (En.). The farming system selected for the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines are (i) shrimp culture in ponds and (ii) pond culture of milkfish, mullet and other brackishwater finfish. However, because of limitation of funds, facilit ies and technical manpower, research will be concentrated on priority commodities of the country which also are of regional interest. While noting the effort of IDRC in establishing breeding and culture technology for milkfish, the Centre focuses its initial attention and effort on the farming of shrimp in brackishwater ponds and culture of other brackishwater finfish (seabass and grouper). The selection of shrimp is due to its high market value and its economic importance to the shrimp cultiv ated in the various tropical and sub-tropical Asian countries. The rapid decline of supply from the wild has led many countries to launch massive programmes to culture the species which has a lucrative export value. However, appropriate farming technology has not been fully developed resulting to frequent shortage of feed supply, poor harvest and in some cases collapse of production farms.