Aquaculture in Asia-Pacific / October update

Disclaimer: This is not an extensive review of aquaculture in each country, this is a digest of the news about aquaculture in Asia released on Internet this month. The validity of any information or figures quoted is the responsibility of the individual newspapers and websites concerned. Also, please check previous updates: August 2009, September 2009

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Bangladesh

• Bangladesh could overtake Vietnam in billion dollar global Pangasius market

Bangladesh could grab a large slice of the billion dollar global Panga market, as local farms are raising the fish much cheaper than their Vietnamese counterparts, farmers and officials said Sunday. According to the Department of Fisheries, Bangladeshi farmers last year cultivated 2.25 million metric tonnes of Panga against a nationwide demand of 2.9 million metric tonnes. It is locally known as the fish of the poor and for that reason, its price has been quite low recently. On average farmers now spend 40 BDT (0.4 EUR) to raise one-kilogram Panga fish, which is lower than the production cost in Vietnam. “Yet, we have failed to cash in on our price advantages in the European market despite high demand. We lack hygiene and processing standards that are prerequisite for export,” Sazzad said. However, Dr. MA Mazid, national consultant of UN Industries Development Organisation (UNIDO), said “It can overtake shrimp as the leading frozen food export item, as research has shown Bangladeshi ponds and rivers are the most suitable place to raise Panga”. To reach that goal, he said some 4,000 Panga farms in the country should first ensure quality of fish fries, proper dietary feeding and environment friendly cultivation — features seen as crucial for entry into the export market. On the other side, farmers expect more support from the government [3].

• Recommendation for branding Bangladeshi shrimps

A two-day seminar on shrimp export concluded on Thursday afternoon making recommendation for branding Bangladeshi shrimps and forming a shrimp development alliance with all the stakeholders to raise foreign exchange earnings from the sector. The other recommendations include adapting new technologies, focusing on research and development, trying to have free-trade treaties with countries concerned, close working relation among farmers and processors, and learning from experiences of other countries. Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Md Abdul Latif Biswas said a law on controlling standard of feed is awaiting passage in Parliament and hoped it would check local manufacturing and import of contaminated fish feed. Mentioning that the government is trying to combat contamination of harmful antibiotic nitrofuran in Bangladeshi shrimps, the minister said measures would be taken to control the illegal entry shrimp fries from foreign countries, which is blamed by many for the contamination. He said an aquaculture food safety center is being established to maintain the quality of shrimps and hoped the sector would be able to attain the 1-billion-dollar-export target by 2015 [16].

Brunei

• Boost for freshwater aquaculture

The development of freshwater aquaculture industry in Brunei Darussalam is still small compared to the other ASEAN countries. On average in the last five years, Brunei Darussalam’s annual production was only 30 metric tonnes, which mainly comprised the major species cultured such as the common carp, nile tilapia, hybrid oreochromis and a few local species of snakehead, puntius and catfish. Director of Fisheries Department, Hajah Hasnah Ibrahim, highlighted the gap in the huge potential of developing freshwater aquaculture in her speech at the launching of on-site training for development of freshwater prawn breeding and larval rearing yesterday. She said, “The total area of land developed for the activities is about 13 hectares, operated and managed by 118 part-time farmers and consisting of 225 ponds. The ponds built are of various sizes from 100 to 500 square metres. Most of the ponds are operated by the people living in the remote areas whose sources of protein, aside from meat and chicken, are freshwater fish collected from the rivers. The fish are produced for their own consumption and the balance is sold to the village community”. She pointed out, “The potentials for developing freshwater aquaculture in Brunei is great because the country still has a lot of ‘undistributed’ inland area and the water is very clean and unpolluted. The goverment is planning to develop identified sites and provide them with basic access of road, electricity and water supply ready for commercial scale freshwater fish/prawn farming to operate and at the same time a fish processing centre is developing steadily in the country for post-harvest activity. “At the same time, the culture of freshwater giant prawns – Udang Galah – has a great future in Brunei as this prawn is popular among Bruneians and the market price ranges from US$10 to $US 15 per kilogram [20] [22].

• On-site training

An on-site training for the development of freshwater prawn breeding and larval rearing will run for 29 days until November 9, 2009 at the Sungai Jambu fish farm. The 23 participants comprise officers and technical staff from the Fisheries Department as well as Wasan Vocational School. The course is conducted by two aquaculture experts from Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) [20] [21] [22].

• Temburong Prawn Output Plummets

Prawn production in Temburong district has declined by a staggering 88 per cent over the past 20 years, according to official figures released by the Fisheries Department yesterday. Fisheries director Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim said from 1996 to 2006, the production of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (also known as the local prawn) in Temburong district decreased from an estimated 600kg to 70kg per day, prompting the department to engage a team of consultants to carry out a "rapid assessment" of the situation. Over the last five years the country's annual freshwater aquaculture production averaged around 30 metric tonnes, ranging from the common carp, nile tilapia, hybrid oreochromis and a few local species such as snakehead, puntius and catfish. "The government is planning to develop identified sites and provide it with basic amenities such as access road, electricity and water supply ready for the operation of commercial scale freshwater fish or prawn farming," said Hjh Hasnah [21] [22].

• Brunei fish yield very low

Brunei's yield from fish culture is still low compared to what it can potentially produce, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. Hjh Amsah Hj Samara said there are 58 fish culture operators in the country who have collectively produced 60 metric tonnes of fish so far this year. In rectifying the situation, the acting deputy permanent secretary said that the Fisheries Department is planning to expand off-shore fish cage culture operations. An aquaculture research specialist from the Philippines who is working with the department shared that one operator is already holding talks to establish a significant number of off-shore fish cages, which is hoped to realise the country's potential fish production. The round cages, with a diameter of 13 metres, has the capacity to accommodate more than 10,000 fish at one time. Apart from the expansion into off-shore fish cages, the department has also embarked on the Ecological Recirulation Aquaculture System (ERAS) project on a 40-hectare site in Sg Paku. The park aims to produce 5,000 tonnes of high-value fish yearly on land-based fish farms, according to a past report [25].

• Brunei to get new aquaculture research centre

The Government of Brunei Darussalam through the Fisheries Department will be establishing a multi-million-dollar aquaculture biotechnology research centre in the vicinity of Serasa in three years’ time to improve the quality of fish fry [26].

Cambodia

• Cambodian fisheries officials attain Vietnam lessons, experience

Cambodia has learned lessons and achieved experience in fisheries from Vietnam via a visit to the south on Oct. 20-24 by a government delegation of nine high-level officials, the delegation chief said. Mr. Nao Thuok, general director of the Fisheries Administration, Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, told Sai Gon Giai Phong that his delegation learned about how to properly manage a fish landing. The delegation chief also added the nine-member mission gained more experience in culture of such fish as snakehead, catfish, tilapia, and prawns. He said pond, pen and cage culture of fish was seen in Vietnam’s Mekong provinces while pen culture was new in his country. The delegates, who are from the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, said it was the first high-level visit since the former Fisheries Department was re-established with Vietnamese assistance in 1979. This visit took place as part of regional cooperation activities under the Technical Advisory Body on Fisheries Management of the Mekong River Commission Fisheries Program. According to Cambodian statistics, the country’s overall fisheries production amounted to about 471,000 tons last year. Cambodia now has an estimated 1.4 million full-time fishermen and about 6 million people engaged in related activities and part-time fishing [52].

China

• EU inspection for hygiene of seafood products

The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO published its report on the control system for wild and farmed fishery products in China, following its mission in May 2009. Although the system of controls operated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection (the central CA) is satisfactory in many aspects, China has not yet achieved full equivalence with EC requirements. Inspectors requested the submission of plan of corrective actions [19].

Hawaii

• Hawaii Aquaculture report

Hawaii Aquaculture report by the National Agriculture Statistic Service is available for download here [40]. Hawaii grown aquaculture reached a record $34.7 million in 2008, increasing 38 percent from 2007. Algae sales accounted for 45 percent of the value and amounted to $15.7 million. Finfish sales by weight valued at $7.0 million, comprised 20 percent of the total. The ornamental category was pegged at $3.3 million or 10 percent of the total. The ‘other’ category includes seed stock, brood stock, and other items counted by number, accounted for 24 percent or $8.3 million. Hawaii County continued to lead the State in aquaculture sales with $27.8 million or 80 percent of the total value. Sales from Honolulu, Kauai and Maui Counties accounted for the remaining 20 percent [40].

• Kona Blue Water farms

Kona Blue Water farms raises kahala in tanks that are then taken to the ocean pens to mature [36]. Kahala is a lowly native fish that in the wild is prone to a reef toxin called ciguatera. Commercial fishermen throw kahala back in the ocean if they catch it. The premium product is called Kona Kampachi, the trademarked name of the cultivated version of kahala (also known as Hawaiian yellowtail and almaco jack), or Seriola rivoliana [37] . Kona blue aims at being an exemple of sustainable aquaculture and was meticulous about consulting with the public (everyone from commercial fishers and other shoreline interests to Hawaiian community elders). However, there is a debate between the company, ecologist groups and local communities about environmental impact (it's a carnivorous fish) and economic benefit. There was also a problem with shark, since one specimen had to be killed for ensuring Kona Blue's staff safety [35], but shocking the nearby community [36]. Local Hawaiian groups oppose Kona Blue's expansion plans [35]. Kona Blue's operation has two main components: a land-based hatchery and an open-ocean "ranch" situated under water a half-mile offshore of Keahole Point. Look [37] for more technical details about farming technologies used. At harvest, which occur twice weekly, the fish weigh about 6 to 8 pounds [37]. Kona Blue received 4 million USD in venture capital from Cornerstone and a few other firms. Now, the company employs about 30 staffers, most of whom have degrees in biology or marine sciences, or have worked in the diving tourism industry. The cost of the fish is now at about $20 per pound retail but should decrease [37]. As of March 2009, Kona Blue harvests 25000 pounds per week at a price of 17 USD per filleted pound when purchased directly [35]. However, Kona Blue is not yet profitable [35] [36].

• Two large fish farms off O'ahu and the Kona Coast of the Big Island

Two local companies are hoping to ride the wave of popularity of aquaculture products by proposing large fish farms off O'ahu and the Kona Coast of the Big Island. Grove Farm Fish & Poi LLC, formerly known as Cates International, is seeking to expand its ocean fish farm off 'Ewa Beach from 28 acres to 61 acres. The company, the state's first commercial open-ocean fish farm, is hoping to boost production of moi (Pacific threadfin) from 1.2 million pounds to 5 million pounds. Meanwhile, Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. is proposing a 247-acre tuna farm off Kawaihae in West Hawai'i to raise bigeye and yellowfin tuna. The company said the farm could produce 12 million pounds of fish per year [42]. Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. proposes to raise sashimi-grade fish, from eggs to plate, in 12 giant cages in deep waters. Hawaii Oceanic hopes to avoid criticisms by developing better breeding techniques, a sustainable organic feed and a new type of storm and shark-proof underwater cage [41].

• University of Hawaii Aquaculture Program Coordinator is calling for collaboration

University of Hawaii Aquaculture Program Coordinator is calling for collaboration between the different entities at the university, federal and state agencies and departments and the aquaculture industry through a letter published on Internet [43]. Please check his very interesting and useful website: http://www.aquaculturehub.org/

• Aquaculture farmers in Hawai'i are now able apply for federal stimulus money

Aquaculture farmers in Hawai'i are now able apply for federal stimulus money to help offset high feed prices experienced by the industry last year. The state Department of Agriculture last week said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated $150,000 as Hawai'i's portion of $50 million feed stimulus funding [44].

• Hawaii regulators approve first US tuna farm

Hawaii Oceanic Technology aims to create an environmentally friendly open ocean farm for bigeye tuna, a favorite source for sushi and sashimi that's overfished in the wild. The project would also be the world's first commercial bigeye farm. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 4-to-1 to give Hawaii Oceanic permission to install three large underwater cages for the tuna. Unlike many tuna farms around the world which capture immature tuna and fatten them until they're ready for harvest, Hawaii Oceanic expects to artificially hatch bigeye at a University of Hawaii lab in Hilo. After the fry grow, the company will take the fish to giant ocean pens about three miles offshore where they will grow until they reach 100 pounds. The farm is expected to produce 6,000 tons of bigeye a year once fully operational, serving Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Japan and other parts of Asia. Hawaii Oceanic projects it will generate $120 million in annual export revenues, more than six times the value of Hawaii's current aquaculture output. Several critics told the board they're worried diseased farm fish would escape and contaminate wild stocks, and others said they're worried about where Hawaii Oceanic would obtain its fish feed. The project won't be sustainable if it imports its feed and exports about 90 percent of its product, said Rob Parsons, a board member of the environmentalist group Maui Tomorrow. Given the untested technology and the large scale of the project, the board required the company to report on its progress and return for permission to deploy the remaining nine cages it aims to build [51].

India

• Indian shrimp industry facing crisis

India’s aquaculture efforts are entirely focused on black tiger shrimp species, which has been facing a sharp decline in demand due to the availability of low-cost vannamei shrimp in the international markets. Vannamei shrimp can be produced at almost half the cost of the black tiger and is almost as attractive in taste and looks. With vannamei from China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia flooding the global markets, demand and price of black tiger have dropped to all-time lows. The Indian shrimp culture industry is in turmoil and farmers are even averse to seeding their farms. There will be a drastic reduction in aquaculture production in the coming years unless a solution is found [14].

• Training in freshwater prawn farming at Fisheries College and Research Institute

A training programme in freshwater prawn farming technique sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, was inaugurated at Fisheries College and Research Institute here on Wednesday. Inaugurating the program, J. Daniel Jameson, Dean - in charge, FCRI, said that the training, which commenced here, would be for a period of 15 days for 25 fish farmers from five southern districts [15].

• Fish fair in Manipur

The Manipur Government has organized a fish fair cum competition to promote the fish business and help people get fish at reasonable prices in the state. The fair is being organized by the Directorate of Fisheries on the occasion of Ningol Chakkouba every year. The fair is also aiming to promote and encourage fish farmers to produce more. Hundreds of buyers rush to the fish fair for best purchases. Over a hundred fish farmers in the state are participating in the fair [50].

Lao PDR

• A Legislative Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Lao PDR

A review by Philippe Cacaud and Phouvieng Latdavong of the FAO is a background document to a legal review process for fisheries and aquaculture, the need for which was recognised by the Government of Lao PDR. The reviews concludes that the adoption of a framework fisheries and aquaculture legislation in Lao PDR will have the effect of clarifying the applicable legal principles for the conservation and management of fisheries and aquaculture, which, up to now, have been scattered over many laws and regulations. This legislation is developed as a so-called 'enabling legislation' (as opposed to a 'prescriptive legislation') and allows for flexibility and adaptive management. This is an important feature in a country such as Lao PDR, which is endowed with abundant, diffuse and widely diverse fisheries and undergoing rapid change [18].

• Culture-Based Fisheries in Lao PDR

Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) reports on community management and revenue sharing practices of culture-based fisheries in Lao. Culture-based fisheries (CBF), a practice that utilises small water bodies, for the secondary purpose of increasing the food fish production far in excess of what is potentially achievable through natural recruitment, is gaining momentum in the region. CBF is environmentally friendly, using seed stock as the main external input, and that too of species that are mostly indigenous to the area or sometimes exotics that have been locally used over a long period of time. The lessons learnt from Sri Lanka and Vietnam, enabled Lao PDR to test the suitability of most productive and appropriate species combinations, stocking densities to be used and other scientific inputs such as fry to fingerling nursing and rearing and so forth [28].

Malaysia

• Shrimp Project in Terengganu to Create Jobs for Locals

Terengganu is set to be a major global supplier of shrimps, including the favourite premium quality black tiger prawns and white-leg shrimp, once the RM200mil Integrated Shrimp Aquaculture Park (I-Sharp) is ready for production by 2011 [15].

• Government encourages organic aquaculture

The Malaysian Fisheries Department is formulating an organic certification program under the Malaysian Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme to help advance the national aquaculture industry. Director General Datuk Junaidi Che Ayub said that the new development corresponds to the government's efforts to be one of the leading organic fish and shrimp countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). All aquaculture farms manufacturing aquaculture products under the organic aquaculture project managed by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and INFOFISH are currently obtaining certification from the Organic Aquaculture Farms and Products Certification Centre (OAPC) of Thailand, according to Che Ayub [19].

• Ambang Wibawa Eyes 300 Tonnes Of Seafood Products By 2011

Perak- headquartered Ambang Wibawa Sdn Bhd aims to produce 300 tonnes of seafood products per month from 2011, and is in the process of adding another 80 hectares of fish farm to achieve the target. Managing director Murkhalis Mokhtar said the 12-year-old frozen fish exporter was currently operating a 40-hectare fish farm at its base in Kampar. Ambang Wibawa supplies, among others, frozen red tilapia, black tilapia, milk fish, pangasius, Asian seabass and black tiger shrimp. The company has also introduced a range of new dried salted and smoked seafood products. Murkhalis said Ambang Wibawa was in the midst of recruiting 30 additional workers to join its current 50 following the introduction of the new products [23].

Nepal

• Kanchanpur Kamaiyas lured towards fish farming

Freed Kamaiyas entered commercial fish farming business five years ago as they have no other means of income. For the business, they have built six reservoirs with economic and technical support from non-governmental organizations - Ilamplus and Helmitas - working in the district. The people farm fish in the commune and share the income every month among them for their livelihood. Doing so, they have managed to return loans taken before from lenders. The Kamaiyas who manage to invest in fingerlings, their food and maintenance of the reservoirs within the commune said they feel happy about managing the fishery. They farm various species of fish including rohu, common carp and common silver carp. Since the fish is sold while in the ponds, the Kamaiyas do not need to look for markets. There are 70 family members in 15 households depending on the fishery and each family earns around Rs 3,000 and more per month from this business [24].

New Caledonia

• Shrimp farming in New Caledonia

On March, 10 2010, Yves Harache and Alain Herbland, biologists will give a conference on the development of aquaculture in the French Overseas territories: shrimp farming in New Caledonia. The venue will be Salle des Conférences Lucien Laubier, Technopole Brest Iroise - Plouzané (29) France [45]. New Caledonia, historically one of the pioneer research poles on the shrimp "domestication" in the seventies with the active support of the Pacific Oceanological Center (CNEXO), has now reached a production of about 2500 tons per year in 2005. This production, although modest compared to other countries has pushed shrimp as the second largest export product. It created job in rural areas. Being an example in terms of responsible aquaculture (reasoned intensification, distance between farms, preservation of the mangrove, total prohibition of antibiotics, quality certification for export with strict product specifications), it remains fragile, as all such activities, in front of a severe international competition [46].

Pakistan

• EU inspectors to check compliance of seafood industry with EU Food law

A delegation of the EU will visit Pakistan next month. In April 2007, the EU had banned the seafood imports from Pakistan over its substandard quality. Subsequently, the Pakistani government had taken several corrective measures at the fishing harbor and processing plants in Karachi, the report said. However, despite the EU ban, Pakistan’s seafood export was 5,327 tonnes in August 2009, compared to 5,032 tonnes during the like period last year [8].

Papua-New Guinea

• Promoting small-scale inland aquaculture in Papua New Guinea

Peter Edwards was invited by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to join a team last October to review a project on the promotion of small-scale aquaculture in PNG. Much of the traditional inland aquaculture in Asia is integrated with agriculture and animal husbandry using on-farm or locally available farm by-products as these were the only resources available to feed fish before the manufacture of inorganic fertilisers and formulated feed. In PNG, aquaculture is an important priority for the government for food security and poverty alleviation, especially to increase the protein consumption of people in the highlands, as well as a means to earn income. Fish is recognised as a source of high-quality protein, and fish can be eaten frequently as they are small compared to a large pig. The project visited by Edwards has significantly raised awareness of the potential of inland aquaculture in PNG through training 1,500 farmers. Farm numbers are reported, albeit somewhat subjectively, to now exceed 15,000, and to be growing quickly. However, many farmers are inactive, having dug ponds at considerable effort while still waiting for technical advice, fingerlings and feed. There is a question regarding the impact of training on farmer practice as trainees returning to their villages to train others when the technology remains to be sufficiently verified; and that the trainees understand enough of a given technology to be able to implement it on their farms and to disseminate it correctly to others. There is a need to demonstrate that aquaculture can be productive, profitable and eventually sustainable as a private sector enterprise [16].

Philippines

• BFAR preps for climate change

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is getting ready for the effects of climate change. BFAR Cordillera Administrative Region Director Rebecca Dang-awan has identified two ways in which climate change might affect the aquatic resources: too much water or flooding; and not enough water, or drought. BFAR officer-in-charge for Fisheries Resource Management Department Honorio Yamoyam said the bureau is also mitigating climate change by reducing water pollution and fishery conservation. In a message, BFAR National Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. said the national programs are directed at lessening the effects of climate change. These programs include: observing good aquaculture practice, good manufacturing practices, vessel monitoring system, establishing mariculture parks, the rent-a-cage program, and planting of mangrove and watershed reforestation. The rent-a-cage program is designed for marine communities where fishermen will be taught how to raise fishes rather than fishing directly from the sea [10].

• Resilience of Coral-Associated Bacterial Communities Exposed to Fish Farm Effluent

The coral holobiont includes the coral animal, algal symbionts, and associated microbial community. These microbes help maintain the holobiont homeostasis; thus, sustaining robust mutualistic microbial communities is a fundamental part of long-term coral reef survival. Coastal pollution is one major threat to reefs, and intensive fish farming is a rapidly growing source of this pollution. The susceptibility and resilience of the bacterial communities associated with a common reef-building coral, Porites cylindrica, to coastal pollution was studied by performing a clonally replicated transplantation experiment in Bolinao, Philippines adjacent to intensive fish (milkfish Chanos chanos) farming. Scientists observed rapid, dramatic changes in the coral-associated bacterial communities within five days of high effluent exposure. The community composition on fragments at these high effluent sites shifted towards known human and coral pathogens (i.e. Arcobacter, Fusobacterium, and Desulfovibrio) without the host corals showing signs of disease. The communities shifted back towards their original composition by day 22 without reduction in effluent levels. This study reveals fish farms as a likely source of pathogens with the potential to proliferate on corals and an unexpected short-term resilience of coral-associated bacterial communities to eutrophication pressure. These data highlight a need for improved aquaculture practices that can achieve both sustainable industry goals and long-term coral reef survival [17].

• Research brightens prospects of Pangasius

The Los Baños-based Luzon State Polytechnic University-College of Agro-Fishery Sciences (LSPU-LB) is now culturing Pangasius in fishponds, fish cages, and tanks. Among the pioneers in the local Pangasius industry is the Blue Bay Aquaculture of Jimmy Kuan and Nick Cual. Its main office is on West Ave. in Quezon City, while its hatcheries are in Nueva Ecija and Isabela (Santiago City). Fingerlings are produced in these facilities and sold to grow-out fishfarmers in various parts of the country, in fact, as far as the Cotabato region in Mindanao. Pangasius fillet and whole fish are now sold in market outlets, notably in some parts of Metro Manila, although still in limited volume. A kilo costs as much as 60 PHP (0.86 EUR) [1].

• Reviving Bangus Farms and Fishing Industry Hit by Typhoons

As super typhoons ravage the Philippine archipelago with an annual average of five to six, in Pangasinan, the typhoons' devastation cause the destruction of fish pens, fish cages and other fish traps used in raising bangus. Pangasinan suffered 1.12 billion PHP (16 million EUR) damages on fishery alone, according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Millions of pesos worth of bangus swam out to the sea as fish pens and cages, many of them located along the Caquipotan Channel between Bolinao and Anda towns are destroyed. To help rehabilitate the bangus industry of the province, Nestor Domenden, Region 1 Director of BFAR urged the government to provide 50 % of the fry requirements of the affected bangus growers for free. The same mode of assistance was adopted when Typhoon Cosme inflicted heavy damage on the bangus-producing areas. About 11 million pieces of Sarangani bangus fry were dispersed. BFAR allocated the funding for the rehabilitation through the support of assistance of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who flew in to Bolinao just two days after the typhoon struck. Local government units (LGUs) were tapped to select the recipients through the municipal agriculture department. During the dispersal, Domenden said that the only requirement they request from their beneficiaries was to make the necessary report to their local agriculture office the volume of bangus harvested [2].

• The Philippines is one of the top bangus producers in the world, along with Indonesia and Taiwan

“Until recently, the country has contributed around 55 % share of the world bangus production,” claims the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Aquaculture and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). The total bangus supply in the Philippines is steadily increasing. From 210,882 metric tons in 1990, bangus production went up to 360,018 metric tons in 2004. Based on current trends (at 11 percent annual growth), the PCAMRD is expecting bangus production to ascend to 451,000 metric tons in 2010. “Bangus has always been the most important species cultured in the Philippines in terms of area and production,” admits Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, who used to be the PCAMRD director and the man who popularized tilapia production and consumption in the country [2].

• Aqualink 2009 to be held in Manila on October 9-11

The forthcoming Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2009, which is slated at the World Trade Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City on October 9-11 [7].

• Typhoon Ondoy's cost of destruction is 778 million PHP (11 million EUR)

As the human casualty count from Typhoon Ondoy continued to rise with the discovery of more mud-covered bodies where floods have receded, the government on Monday began assessing the damage to infrastructure, farms and homes. In Bataan province, initial reports from the Bataan Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council said damage to rice amounted to 781,000 PHP (11,000 EUR); damage to crops, 2.5 million PHP (35,000 EUR); and damage to fish cages, 1.2 million PHP (17,000 EUR) [9]. Meanwhile, in the fisheries sector in Region 3, affected were 5,905 hectares of fishponds with milkfish/tilapia/prawn resulting in a loss to the sector valued at 127.5 million PHP (1.8 million EUR) [17].

• Why Dagupan’s Bonuan ‘bangus’ tastes better

The real Bonuan bangus (milkfish) has a lower tail shorter than the upper tail, which really makes it very unique as compared with the milkfish produced in other areas. But, according to director Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan, this is not the only distinguishing mark. The other is that it has a short head, a protruding stomach, and a short mouth. According to a BFAR study, the sweet taste of the Dagupan bangus may have been partly influenced by the clayish soil condition in Bonuan fishponds and rivers. As to the water, the type existing in Dagupan is brackish, which is a mixture of freshwater from the upland draining into the Dagupan River and salty water from the Lingayen Gulf. This makes the water in Dagupan truly unique, aside from the fact that there are seven rivers criss-crossing the city whose water ends up in the Lingayen Gulf. As to the physical aspect of Bonuan bangus, its short head and a lower tail shorter than the upper tail, was influenced by the unique feeding method being applied by local fish farmers. Rosario said local fish farmers used to feed their fish with the naturally-grown lablab, an aquatic plant produced through fertilization with the aid of the burning sun. Rosario said because of this unique feeding method, Bonuan bangus won’t eat the food in the surface of the water vertically, unlike other fish, but rather horizontally. And in the process, its lower tail is thrusted into the lablab in the bottom of the fishpond, thus explained why its lower tail is shorter than the upper tail. Its round head, according to Rosario is influenced by constant diving into the floor of the fishpond to eat lablab [11].

• Mud crab fattening, a new practice in the Philippines.

The technology has been pioneered by the private sector, primarily to meet the demands of the domestic and foreign markets by culturing marketable crab in a short span of time. Mud crab fattening pertains to culturing mud crab from 15 days to 1 month so that they put on additional weight after moulting. Fattening has also been resorted to by Filipino exporters to avoid confiscation of underweight mud crab, export of mud crab weighing less than 200 g being prohibited [18].

• Mariculture as alternate source of income

Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., BFAR director, said mariculture parks are suitable in Iloilo because of the province’s rich coastal areas. "Iloilo’s coastal lines are suitable for mariculture and we see potential in fish farming here," Mr. Sarmiento said during the mid-project assessment of the Alternative Financing Options for Local Government Units (ALFI) the other week. Project ALFI is a three-year technical assistance of the British Embassy in the Philippines in partnership with the Center for Social Responsibility (CSR) of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). Mr. Sarmiento said local governments can put up a 200-hectare mariculture park which can hold 15 to 20 fish cages per hectare. The park can be rented to a group of fisherfolks or private companies. "The LGU can lease the sea cages to interested investors at P10,000 per unit. A 200-hectare mariculture park with 15 to 20 cages per hectare can earn local governments P30 million to P40 million a year," he added [27].

• Aquaculture eyed for fish prod’n in Davao Region

With the decline in commercial catch, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Davao Region shifted its resources on aquaculture to maintain targets on food production. “I’m now banking on mariculture and aquaculture,” George G. Campeon, regional director of BFAR, said. The BFAR allocated P500,000 for each fish cages for the moorings, foundation and roofing systems. An investor will need to spend P10,000 for the fingerlings, excluding the P200,000 initial investment for the structure, but the margin of profit is huge considering an average of 5,000 kilos per harvest at three croppings each year. For now, the mariculture parks are mostly producing bangus (milkfish) because of the availability of fingerlings. Only about 10 percent of the production are shipped abroad while the rest are for domestic consumption [29].

• Thai firm investing $40 M in the Philippines

Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Limited is investing an additional $40 million in the Philippines for the expansion of an integrated feed and prawn hatchery and grow-out farms in Luzon. Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap made the announcement on Thursday. He added that Charoen Pokphand’s local subsidiary, CPF Philippines, is already operating in Cebu [30].

• RP exporters showcase products in LA

Several exporters from North Luzon and officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) North Philippines, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT), Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC) and the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council are in Los Angeles to promote their products and services to the Fil-Am market in Southern California. The trade delegation held a mini trade fair at the Seafood City Eagle Rock Plaza Oct. 17-18 to showcase the Philippine-made products. The trade fair participants include: Amanda’s Marine Products; Anjo Farms, Inc.; Arjan’s Vegetarian Foods; ADDS Enterprise; Bonsure Evergreen International Corp; Cormel Foods; Pervil Cosmetics; and San Fernando LGU [47].

• Pangasinan provides aid for typhoon-affected farmers and fisherfolks

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. yesterday ordered immediate assistance to farmers and fishermen severely affected by floods spawned by typhoon "Pepeng" and aggravated by massive release of waters from the San Roque Dam. The Governor instructed Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya to disperse fingerlings to communal bodies of water. Damage to agriculture runs to P4.18 billion. Aquaculture or fishery suffered loss of P997 million with an affected area of 7,639.57 hectares [49].

• Meetings address climate change impacts on small scale milkfish farmers

Milkfish production is the second highest component of aquaculture production in the Philippines by volume (229,111 tonnes in 2007) and the highest of the animal aquaculture products, and also the second highest in terms of value (US$ 317 million in 2007) after giant tiger shrimp. Ilolio province of the Philippines is an area where a large amount of the milkfish production occurs. The province is vulnerable to climate change and thus was selected as a case study area for the impacts and adaptation of small scale aquaculture to climate change project. Two focus group discussion meetings of milkfish farmers were held in Dumangas and Barotac Viejo towns in Iloilo City on 30 September 2009 close to the farms of participating milkfish farmers. The focus group discussion meetings mapped farmer perceptions of climate change including climate change issues, impacts on production, economic impacts, adaptation solutions, responsible agencies and matched impacts with seasonal and cropping calendars. A stakeholder workshop was held in Iloilo City on 1 October 2009 with a range of stakeholders including government representatives, scientists, milkfish farmers and milkfish farming support industry people. After hearing about the status of milkfish farming in Iloilo, climate changes that had occurred and the predicted future effects of climate change, stakeholders identified adaptation solutions in four areas: Operational measures (farmer measures),technical measures (science measures), institutional measures (local government units, provincial, regional and central measures), and financial measures (calamity insurance, etc). These activities are part of the climate change impacts and adaptation of milkfish farming in the Philippines case study; one of several case studies of the regional project Strengthening adaptive capacities to the impacts of climate change in resource-poor small-scale aquaculture and aquatic resources-dependent sectors in the south and south east Asian region funded by NORAD [53].

Tahiti

• Vaia, the Polynesian aquaculture center

An Aquaculture Technical Center, called Vaia (Vairao aquaculture) will be build on Ifremer's campus at Vairao, with shrimp and "Paraha peue" (reef fish) hatcheries. It will start its operations in early 2011 and aims at sustaining aquaculture chain in French Polynesia. A cooperative for buying feed will also be established. Aquaculture of new species might be developed [34]. The technical center aquaculture was officially launched on October 29th by the state and country authorities. From 2015, the shrimp hatchery should be able to produce nearly 18 million larvae per year and the fish hatchery nearly 200,000 fingerlings per year. Cost of investment: 534 million Fcfp. Onsite, President Oscar Temaru and the High Commissioner, Adolphe Colrat, formalized with the Minister of Resources of the Sea, Teva Rohfritsch, the launching of the work of Vaia. The aquaculture center is part of the recovery plan and exceptional investment fund. Creating twenty direct jobs, the Polynesian aquaculture center's goal is a turnover estimated at 300 million Fcfp / year (approx. 2.5 million euros) [54].

• Pearl Oyster in French Polynesia

French Polynesia is also home for an important Pearl oyster aquaculture industry. For the last two years, breeders are held at Ifremer campus in Rangiroa (Tuamotu's archipelago) and a quality improvement project is on-going. This includes understanding factors affecting pearl's formation and defect apparition [39].

Taiwan

• Raising hairy crabs in Hualien County

The former head of Taiwan's aboriginal affairs has set his sights on raising hairy crabs in Hualien County after finding that the high quality water in the eastern county is ideal for the aquaculture industry. Pelin formed an aboriginal company together with some aquaculture experts after he stepped down from his post in 2007, and the firm established a model crab farm in Yuli Township, Hualien County, early this year. Taiwan began hairy crab aquaculture around three years ago, mainly in western and southern Taiwan [31].

• Prize for aquaculture scientist

Yang Hui-lang, a professor at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, won the Agricultural Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, a nongovernmental organization based in Trieste, Italy. The prize, worth 15 000 U.S. dollars reward the achievements of the Taiwanese researcher in the field of immunology, vaccination and prevention of viral infections in aquaculture [33].

Vietnam

• Lowering the tariff on material imports for domestic processing

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has called on the Government to ‘rescue’ the seafood industry by lowering the tariff on material imports for domestic processing. There are some 700 seafood processing factories now in Vietnam, while the domestic sources can provide only 50 percent of the total materials needed. VASEP’s Deputy Chairman Nguyen Huu Dung said that it is understandable if Vietnam protects the local farming of black tiger shrimp, tra and basa fish. However, it is reasonable to impose tax on the fishes caught on the sea or farmed salmon, while these kinds of products should be imposed zero percent [4].

• Update on latest economical data

VASEP has predicted that the total export revenue of seafood in 2009 will reach 4.2-4.3 billion, a decrease of 5-7% over 2008. Meanwhile, MOIT has reported that Vietnam’s has exported $3 billion worth of seafood products over the last nine months, down by 9.6% over the same period of the previous year. Besides, the door to Japan’s market will be widened when the Vietnam - Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) takes effect on October 1 which imposes low tariffs on Vietnam’s exports to the country. The import tariff of Vietnam’s shrimp will be lowered to 1-2%. Most recently, Spain, the biggest Vietnam’s tra and basa fish consumer in the EU (400,000 tonnes per annum) has recognized that Vietnam’s seafood products can meet the EU’s requirements on food hygiene [4].

• Experts say rural pollution is alarming

The rural environment is being polluted at an alarming rate, experts warn and call on authorized agencies to adopt measures to ensure sustainable development of both the agricultural sector and the overall economy. Among other agricultural pollution sources, "waste from aquaculture farms is also discharged directly into lakes, rivers, and seas without treatment" Le Vien Chi, deputy head of the Department of Aquatic Production, said. "Farming households are the first victims of this pollution, losing much of their shrimp and fish populations to diseases" he said [5].

• Man killed by fish-feed mixer in Mekong Delta

A young man in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang was crushed to death when he fell into a fish-feed mixer. Le Van Dang, 21, was using a spade to turn over the feed in the mixer, some 1.5-2 meters in diameter, when he fell in. Dang was killed instantly by spinning bars that mix the food. Three people have been killed by falling into fish-feed mixers in the district since the beginning of this year. The mixers are made by private businesses that don’t test for safety [6].

• After Philippines, Ketsana (Ondoy) typhoon strongly affects Vietnam

About 2,300 hectares of aquaculture areas were inundated, but for Pham Chau and other seafood producers the extent of the losses is still unclear. "We will only know really how much we lost in terms of fish and shrimp in the next few days," said Chau, 47, of Tong Chanh village in Thua Thien-Hue. For the moment, he knows that big waves during the storm damaged about half the enclosure where he raises the sea creatures. Chau was busy trying to fix a damaged net. Others had been swept away and he expects "considerable" losses. His wife usually sells the fish he produces at the market but since the storm damaged his enclosure they have not sold anything, forcing them to live off their savings, he said. "I don't have much in my savings now," said Chau, who invested 50 million dong (2,800 dollars) in his business, partly through a bank loan that is not paid off and prevents his getting more help from the bank. He said he might have to turn to loan sharks to rebuild his business. [14]. In Vietnam, the typhoon caused damage initially estimated at 120 million USD, the government said on Thursday in a detailed report obtained by AFP [12].

• Vietnam-Belgium cooperation

On the occasion of the XX^th anniversary of the Vietnam-Belgium cooperation, Nguyên Van Hao, director of the Aquaculture Research Institute 2, mentioned the support of Ghent University and Belgium government for training experts in aquaculture and assisting crawfish farmers Soc Trang province (Mekong delta), through technological transfers. Besides, in October 2010, Belgium will organize in Brussels the 8th summit of European and Asian Heads of State. Belgium committed in introducing Vietnamese know-how in shrimp farming on occasion of this event [13].

• EU inspection for hygiene of seafood products

The country was inspected in April 2009 by EU FVO. Legislation was found to be in line with EU requirements. The Competent Authority (NAFIQAD) was found to be unable to guarantee that imported fishery products met Community requirements if they were to be re-exported to the EC. However, overall, the controls were considered adequate. The Commission requested the submission of a plan of corrective actions [19].

• Shrimp-rice farms bring hope to Delta

The Cuu Long Delta is Viet Nam’s "rice bowl", growing nearly half its rice, but many areas are not suitable for year-round rice production, because when rainfall is insufficient during the dry season water from the sea moves up inland through the rivers and channels. Nhi My Commune is among the areas affected by this. As a result, many families cultivated only one rice crop a year during the rainy season. For the rest of the year they were jobless, and they had to do odd jobs to survive. The practice of alternately farming rice and shrimp began in the Cuu Long Delta in the 1960s. But it has only become popular and professional in recent years after State-owned agricultural extension agencies and local authorities stepped in to develop the system after realising its advantages. Last year seven provinces in the delta, including Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, and Long An, adopted the system on a combined 120,000 ha, or 23 per cent of the delta’s total arable land. But there is a possibility of shrimp-rice fields becoming chronically and severely saline and, thus, sterile. To avoid this, farmers, after harvesting a shrimp crop, need to use technical measures to desalinate their fields before farming rice [32].

• ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference

The ‘ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference’ will take place March 25-27, 2010 at the New Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The conference will focus on sustainable aquaculture, which is in line with the Vietnamese government’s plan to steer the aquaculture industry towards sustainability. Because Vietnam’s aquaculture industry is still in a phase of rapid expansion, considerable interest has arisen concerning its sustainability. Recently, Vietnam’s government has announced plans for the sustainable development of aquaculture. These plans will comply with traceability and HACCP standards. Other measures to help the country’s aquaculture industry include improving quality of input materials, building modern fish farms, and diversifying markets [48].

• No Need for Pangasius Quality Concerns, Says UK Importer

In the UK, Cumbrian Seafood, which supplies over half of the Vietnamese river cobbler to UK supermarkets, has responded to recent criticism in the media regarding the quality of pangasius it imports from Viet Nam. The company confirms its products are sourced from farms audited for process control, traceability and fish welfare. Huw Thomas, Head of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing at Cumbrian Seafoods said: "All of the pangasius that we import is only bought from audited farms where the factories and feed mills have achieved the highest standards in process control, traceability and fish welfare. "Pangasius fillets are checked for contaminants during farming, upon receipt at the EU approved fish filleting factories, before shipment to the EU by the EU appointed competent authority and again upon arrival into the UK. Copies of these test certificates are routinely audited and show no issues for either antibiotic, pesticide or heavy metal residues, despite the claims that the Mekong water is highly polluted" [55].

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