Aquaculture technopark soon to rise in Laguna Lake

A 26-hectare ornamental tropical freshwater aquaculture techno-park will rise in Laguna Lake this year, serving as a hub for investors wanting to venture into the lucrative export trade of ornamental fish.

The project is being jointly implemented by private sector firm Bio Research, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento said the proposed techno-park will be a one-stop show window where various technology on the breeding and commercial growing and marketing of ornamental fish will be showcased.

The park will also include a one-hectare research and pilot demonstration facility of BFAR and Bio Research in Brgy. Bangyas, Calauan, Laguna.

"In the coming months, key infrastructures and technology transfer facilities for ornamental freshwater fish farming in the lake will be upgraded and broodstock improvement studies will be undertaken to boost the development of the industry," said Sarmiento.

Sarmiento said the park is a key component of BFAR’s five-year ornamental fish development program. He said that with the establishment of the facility, the government hopes to encourage more private sector investors to take advantage of the growing global trade of ornamental fish.

At the recent first National Ornamental Tropical Fish symposium and exhibit held recently in Makati, Singaporean ornamental fish expert and consultant Dr. Lim Lian Chuan pointed out that the Philippines has the potential to be become a major supplier of ornamental fish.

"The Philippines has certain inherent advantages considering its numerous water bodies, the tropical climate which makes for uninterrupted year-round production and readily available manpower and technical resources."

Chuan said the world market for aquarium fish is worth $186 million and is steadily climbing. Asian countries led by Singapore supply 50 percent of the ornamental fish requirements of Europe, US and Japan.

"What the market requires is something that is of the same high quality, affordable and is available given the quantity and time needed. These requirements could easily be met if the fish are grown in one single body of water and under the same culture conditions, which the country could easily provide," stressed Chuan.

Sarmiento noted that despite the country’s advantages, the Philippines’ share of the export market is only 3.8 percent and most of these are marine species that are caught in the wild.

"The growing of ornamental fish in the country’s lakes and other bodies of inland waters will be a big boost to the industry as 90 percent of the fish traded in the world market are freshwater species," he said.

Sarmiento said that existing exporters of ornamental fish enjoy premium prices over food fish. One metric ton of ornamental fish is valued at about $1.8 million. In contrast, the average FOB or freight on board value of food fish exported by the country is only around $2,700 per metric ton.

He noted that raising of ornamental fish such as goldfish, koi, angelfish, fighting fish and similar species is easy and cheap as the fish could be reared even in one’s own backyard.

"Various models and systems are now in display in BFAR centers at Butong, Batangas and in Binloc, Dagupan City, with residents of Laguna and Batangas who had undergone trainings in the said centers benefiting and have been producing aquarium fishes for two years now," he said.

Marissa M. Mutia, chief of the BFAR’s National Fisheries Biological Center in Butong estimated that pond culture of guppy in a 1000 sq.m. area using 4,000 breeders would enable the farmer to net some P298,000 annually. With annual fixed and operational costs estimated at P115,700 and P102,000, respectively, the payback period is less than five months.

Sarmiento added that under the project, various models in the commercial raising of ornamental fish will be tested in the Calabarzon region which straddles Laguna Lake and Taal Lake in Cavite.

BFAR projections show that by 2010, the Philippines can already supply at least 20 percent of the world market demand for freshwater aquarium fish and generate 35,000 jobs for fisherfolks.