A review of relevant literature on aquaculture in Laguna de Bay reveals a few important research gaps. The survey included selected fishing lanes and fish cages and their activities in Laguna de Bay. The study included three municipalities in Laguna de Bay that had fishing lanes and fish cages in 2006 and 2007.
Registered operators of fish pens and fish cages and the area of fish pens and fish cages in Laguna de Bay, by zone and municipality, 2006. Over the years, several studies have been conducted on aquaculture development in Laguna de Bay. Nicolas and Librero (1977) and Librero and Nicolas (1981) also identified several problems faced by fishway operators in Laguna de Bay.
De La Cruz (1981) also listed the problems faced by fish lanes and fish cages in Laguna de Bay. Further studies went beyond aquaculture and delved into the overall development of the fishing sector in Laguna de Bay.
Government and Government-Funded Aquaculture Institutions in Laguna de Bay The major national government and government-funded institutions involved in the
Government and State-Funded Aquaculture Institutions in Laguna de Bay The main national government and state-funded institutions involved in the. Number of registered fish cages and fish cage operators and area of fish cages and fish cages in Laguna de Bay. Traditionally, the main fish species farmed commercially in Laguna de Bay are milkfish and tilapia.
Overall, production in fish houses and fish cages in Laguna de Bay more than doubled from 1996 to 2006. In 2006, the total volume of fish produced in fish houses and fish cages at Laguna de Bay totaled 48,767 tons. Volume of production of aquaculture milkfish, tilapia, carp and catfish in metric tons Laguna de Bay).
There are several forms of aquaculture practiced at the industrial level in Laguna de Bay. Many fish cage and fish cage operations in Laguna de Bay use the extensive method of culture that depends only on the natural food in the lake to feed the fish. Generally, the fishpens and fishpens in Laguna de Bay that grow milkfish are therefore filled with fingerlings and not fried.
For their part, the growing operators in Laguna de Bay stock the fingerlings in fish pens and fish cages, usually from April to June. Fish lanes and fish cages in Laguna de Bay that grow tilapia get their seed from tilapia hatcheries and tilapia hatcheries with nurseries (Figure 11). Formulated feeds cost money, so many fish pens and fish cages in Laguna de Bay do not use them in fish culture.
The traders transport these poles with a trailer truck to the agreed points in Laguna de Bay. Fish basket and cage operations in Laguna de Bay vary somewhat in the marketing of their product. Retailers who buy fish from consignments in Laguna de Bay also resell it to end consumers around the lake.
Aquaculture production in Laguna de Bay and share of total aquaculture and fisheries production in the Philippines (metric tons). Share of aquaculture production in Laguna de Bay to total aquaculture and fisheries production in the Philippines (metric tons).
Problems of Aquaculture in Laguna de Bay
A majority of respondents (73%) were fish cage operators by primary occupation, while a minority had primary occupation in the private sector (18%) and in government (8%). Of the fish hatchery operations rearing milkfish, most (94%) did grow-out culture only while the rest did nursery and grow-out. Most of the commercial suppliers (97%) were in the Philippines but outside Rizal, Laguna and Metro Manila, while the rest were from outside the Philippines.
Of the fish cage operations rearing bighead carp, the majority (65%) performed hatchery only, while the remainder carried out hatchery only or hatchery and hatchery. The majority of the operations (65%) used the extensive system while the rest carried out the semi-intensive system or the intensive system. The financial profitability of the operations of fish cage respondents in Laguna de Bay was evaluated.
Severity of Aquaculture Problems Facing Fishpond Respondents in Laguna de Bay, 2006 Severity of the Problems. Few fishpond respondents considered any of the problems affecting aquaculture in Laguna de Bay to be a problem at all. A majority of respondents (92%) were fish farm operators by primary occupation, while a minority had other jobs in the private sector (6%) and government employment (2%).
More than half of the respondents' fish cage operations (53%) farmed bighead carp only (Table 23). The majority of finger plants used (75%) came from commercial suppliers, while the rest came from BFAR. The majority of the fry used by the respondents (75%) came from commercial suppliers, while the rest came from BFAR.
Half of the respondents who produced milkfish sold to wholesalers, while the rest sold to consignment (25%) and retailers (25%). Less than half of the respondents who produced bighead carp (47%) sold to wholesalers, while the rest sold to consignments (26%), retailers (17%) and other businesses. More than half of the respondents (58%) generated only the capital used for the operation of fish cages from their own funds, while the rest was obtained from borrowed funds and other sources (Table 24).
The issues facing aquaculture in Laguna de Bay were also evaluated based on respondents' perceptions of fish cages (Table 27). Severity of aquaculture problems faced by respondents in fish cages in Laguna de Bay, 2006 Severity of problems.
Conclusions and Recommendations
As in the case of fish cages, few fish cage respondents considered the problems affecting aquaculture in Laguna de Bay to be no problem at all. Second, even in the absence of new efforts, much can already be done by the government by way of improving monitoring and enforcement in Laguna de Bay. Thirdly, much can also be achieved by the government if it promotes the formation of effective and efficient producer organizations or cooperatives that will assist fish cage and fish hatchery operators in Laguna de Bay in carrying out the various aspects of their operations.
On the other hand, the same limited support specifically for aquaculture in Laguna de Bay is rather strange given that it is an important supplier of fish locally and nationally. Therefore, the national government should support the continued practice of fish and cage culture in Laguna de Bay as long as it is carried out sustainably. Among other things, it should pursue an integrated development of the lake where aquaculture plays an integral but supportive role for the overall development goals in the lake and the Laguna de Bay region.
Proceedings of the seminar-workshop on state of development of the Laguna de Bay area, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. A Comprehensive Assessment of the Philippine Agricultural Extension System (Phase I), Philippine Institute for Development Studies, NEDA sa Makati Bldg., Makati City. Paper presented in Field Level Workshops for the Fish Cage Development in Laguna de Bay, FAO/TCP South China Fisheries Development and Coordination Programme, October 1981.
Milkfish culture in pens: an assessment of its contribution to overall fishery production of Laguna de Bay. Published by the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Federation of River Basin Councils in the Laguna de Bay Region, 30 p. Published by the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Federation of River Basin Councils in the Laguna de Bay Region, 34 p.
Financial and Economic Analysis of Tilapia Grower Cage Farming in Laguna de Bay, Philippines. A review of important watershed management issues in rapidly urbanizing metropolitan areas with reference to the Laguna de Bay region. Proceedings of the Seminar-Workshop on the Development Status of the Laguna de Bay Area, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines.
