New fish seen to provide protein needs of highland areas

With the reported breakthrough in the breeding of the Australian silver perch in commercial quantity, Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr. directed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) to intensify the promotion of its culture in highland areas of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Lorenzo said the farming of this cold-tolerant fish species would greatly improve the fish sufficiency in this mountainous region. Accordingly, fish production in the Cordilleras had remained lowest over the years as most of the available farmed fish species could hardly tolerate the cold-water temperature.

The farming of silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) in freshwater areas of the region hopefully would improve fish sufficiency, which at present is pegged only at 15 percent, Lorenzo added.

Broadening aquaculture base

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento Jr. said continuing research on new fish species such as the silver perch is part of its thrust to broaden the aquaculture base of the country. "Diversification of aquaculture commodities, like the introduction of a select high-end species is an important strategy to maximize the production potential of our aquaculture resources," the BFAR director said.

Sarmiento also said the agency has been exercising extreme caution in allowing the introduction of new species, saying that it is only after years of thorough environment impact assessment that the fish is finally allowed for propagation in Philippine waters.

The study on the culture and breeding of silver perch was started some four years ago at the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Binloc, Bonuan.

The culture of this high value fish could also help create job opportunities in hatchery production and grow-out. In Australia, where the fish originated, a kilogram sells at A$10-15., he added.

Infrastructure support

Sarmiento said BFAR has already introduced appropriate fish farming technologies designed to suit the topographic character of the Cordillera Administrative Region through the establishment of pilot demonstration farms and continuing conduct of trainings. In La Trinidad, Benguet a techno-demo farm for Integrated Highland Agri-Aqua Farming was established two years ago.

Also, early this year, BFAR piloted the raising of silver perch in the fish terraces of Itogon and Kenon Road. Patterned after the world-famous rice terraces, the sloping ponds were constructed along the mountainside using rocks and concrete for its dike. Some ponds are currently stocked with silver perch, dojo or Japanese eel, ulang or giant freshwater prawn and cold-tolerant tilapia.

Sleeping giant

NIFTDC chief Westley Rosario said white perch is considered as the sleeping giant of world aquaculture. It could easily be raised in earthen ponds, reservoirs, and dams or even in backyard fishpond just like the tilapia. It could also grow in temperatures ranging from 2 to 35 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for raising in cold regions like that of the Cordilleras.

Rosario added that the fish is hardy, grows fast reaching up to 40 cm in length and eight kilograms in weight. Being omnivorous, silver perch feeds on plant materials, planktons and small crustaceans. It also has high feed conversion ratio of 1.5:1 when fed with commercial pellets, Rosario said.

From experiences of the researchers in Bonuan Center, it was found out that the breeding period of silver perch in Dagupan City is seven months – from August to February. The breeding of this species in the Philippines can be year-round when done in cold areas like the mountain provinces. This is an advantage against Australia because there, the fish could breed for only four months – from November to February, Rosario explained.

Currently, the Bonuan center maintains 1,600 breeders. It had already distributed fingerlings to fish farmers in Baguio City, Benguet, Pangasinan, Manila and in Region IV-B for pilot testing.

Excellent health food

The silver perch is an excellent health food with a meat recovery of 40 percent. It is found to contain high levels of Omega-3-fatty acids, chemical compounds found to help improve heart health, reduce hypertension, and improve rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud’s disease, and other auto-immune diseases.

Omega-3, which is classified as a polyunsaturated fatty acid, also helps in preventing depression and symptoms of other mental health problems. It also aids in the prevention of cancer. — BFAR-FRMP-IEC