Raising ulang in fish cages

It is now feasible to raise ulang (giant freshwater prawn) in fish cages in lakes.

The technology was developed and continues to be refined under a collaborative project on the development of genetically improved strain of this shrimp species scientifically named Microbrachium rosenbergii.

The project is being implemented in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.

From 2003 to 2005, it was part of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC (Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center) Special Five-Year Program on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the Region.

In 2006, the project was placed under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group Collaborative Mechanism.

The activities in the Philippines are implemented at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) Binangonan Freshwater Station in Binangonan, Rizal; Mindanao State University (MSU) campus in Naawan, Misamis Oriental; DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR-NFFTC) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; and BFAR National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

A flyer titled "Cage Culture of the Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Lakes" has been produced by SEAFDEC AQD.

For more information about the ulang cage culture technology, interested people may communicate with Dr. Ma. Lourdes Cuvin-Aralar, head of the SEAFDEC AQD Binangonan Station — Fax (63-2) 289-3687 or email [email protected] — RAF