BFAR eyes export of pompano fish

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is grooming the pompano fish industry to be export- competitive in the next five years.

The agency announced yesterday that it would increase support for the production of pompano in the mariculture zones of Region 4A and Region 11. These would include hatcheries in Padre Burgos and Perez in Quezon as well as Panabo City, Malita, Santa Cruz, Mati, Pantukan, Island Garden City of Samal, and Malalag in Southern Mindanao.

BFAR director Asis Perez said pompano culture is a good alternative to bangus culture using fish cages.

Although the initial inputs for raising pompano are higher, the farmgate prices of the fish are double than that of bangus.

“But we are optimistic that technological developments will eventually lead to substantial reduction in operating costs,” said Perez.

The BFAR said that pompano, like pangasius, fetched a high level of market acceptance in the US and Europe during acceptance trials conducted.

BFAR began in 2008 studies on the culture potential of pompano in its mariculture zone in Padre Burgos, Quezon. This graduallty spread out to Pangasinan, Bataan, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Mauban and General Santos City as the culture process is taken up by the private sector.

Pompano fish could be sold for P280 to P320 per kilogram.  Production cost is placed at P160 to P180 per kilo.

Mass production of pompano by cage farming was found to be effective because the fish readily adapts to the culture environment and grows at a uniform rate.

Under its medium term development roadmap for the pompano industry, BFAR would continue to explore new breeding methods, develop low cost feeds, and develop sustainable development protocols.

Other interventions in support of the industry such as credit extension, provision of more port harvest infrastructure, marketing and promotion and capacity building would also be pursued within the next five years.

Silver pompano is widely cultured in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Vietnam.

In the Philippines, the most popular specie is the Trachinotus blochii or the snub-nosed pompano.