Lapu-lapu now raised in fishponds

Time was when grouper (lapu-lapu) was caught in the open seas. And its fry gathered from the wild, too.

Now, this high-valued finfishes are cultured in cages in fishponds. And their fry nurtured in inland fish nurseries as well.

This research breakthrough achieved in recent years augurs well for the further development of the grouper industry, averred Roberto Abrera, manager of BFAR’s Region 4-B Regional Fisheries Research and Development Center (RFRDC).

Abrera discussed the prospects of the new grouper production system in a paper titled "Grouper Culture in Cages" presented at the recent BAR-organized technology commercialization forum in Lipa City.

He reported that groupers are now popularly cultured in cages in Palawan and many parts of the country. They are valued for their excellent texture and flavor.

"The demand for grouper in the urban and export markets is steadily increasing," Abrera said. "This means opportunity for the aquaculture industry to flourish, bring in foreign currency to boost the country’s economy, and generate more jobs for coastal dwellers."

There are about 40 species of grouper distributed in the tropical waters of the Philippines and two species are popularly cultured commercially at present.

Abrera identified these species as the orange-spotted grouper (scientific name: Epinephelus coioides), locally known in Palawan as loba or green grouper, and the black-spotted grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus).

Other species are the brown-marbled grouper, dusky tail grouper, leopard coral trout, barred-cheek coral trout, and humpback grouper.

At present, Abrera noted, supply of grouper, mostly fingerlings, for commercial cabe producion still come from the wild.

Grouper fingerlings and juveniles are collected using devices such as fish corral, fish trap, bamboo pole shelter trap, rock mounds, and fish nets.

In Palawan, the notable sources of grouper fingerlings include areas in the Calamian Group of Islands, Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, Bays of Puerto Princesa City, Honda, and Ulugan in Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan, Quezon, Rizal and Balabac.

To further boost the development of the grouper industry, BFAR has prepared "How-To’s" of the new technology for those interested in venturing into it.

These include site selection, net cage specifications, cage netting, anchor, hides and shelters, nursery and conditioning net cage, production net cages, harvesting, and postharvest. – Rudy A. Fernandez