SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department Library

14/05/2026

𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Aquaculture now accounts for a larger share of the Philippines’ fisheries production volume. This includes not only farmed fish and shrimp, but also seaweeds, shellfish, and other aquatic products. These provide not only food, but also livelihoods nationwide.

Seaweed farming, in particular, provides income for many coastal families and contributes to export industries, while fish and shellfish farming help supply food for local communities.

Meanwhile, capture fisheries remain essential for food and income but face pressures from overfishing, habitat degradation, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Many capture fisheries face declining catches, while aquaculture production and its role in food production and income generation are growing.

Through research, technology development, and training, SEAFDEC/AQD continues to promote science-based aquaculture that supports livelihoods, food security, and the sustainable use of aquatic resources.

Data from Fisheries Situation Report (Jan–Dec 2025), Philippine Statistics Authority

14/05/2026

06/05/2026

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲: 𝗥𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀
The leatherback sea turtle (𝘋𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢) is the largest living sea turtle and one of the most unique, with a body covered with leathery skin instead of a hard shell. These ocean wanderers can grow over two meters long and weigh up to 900 kilograms.

In the Philippines, leatherbacks are rarely encountered. From 2000 to 2016, only four individuals were recorded around Panay and Guimaras by SEAFDEC FishWorld, highlighting how uncommon encounters are.

On 18 April 2026, a female leatherback turtle was reported stranded in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Guimbal, Iloilo, about five kilometers from SEAFDEC/AQD. It had an approximate body weight of 150 kilograms, a curved carapace length of 118 centimeters, and a curved carapace width of 86 centimeters.

Despite immediate response efforts, the turtle was found lifeless and subsequently brought to FishWorld Museum for examination and preservation.

Learn more about FishWorld’s encounter with sea turtles in “Where Sea Turtles Meet People and Fisheries: Citizen Research for Conservation” by Dr. Teodora Bagarinao.
http://hdl.handle.net/10862/6630
http://hdl.handle.net/10862/6630
http://hdl.handle.net/10862/6630

04/05/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗: 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮
As global demand for seafood continues to rise, aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in supporting food supply, livelihoods, and coastal communities.

For over five decades, SEAFDEC/AQD has contributed to this effort through research, technology development, and training across Southeast Asia and beyond.

From early breakthroughs in shrimp and milkfish hatcheries to ongoing work on new aquaculture species, AQD continues to support science-based and sustainable practices in aquatic food production.

Learn more about how these efforts contribute to aquaculture development in the region.

27/04/2026

27/04/2026

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗔: TRIVIA: Did you know? Some rabbitfish from the genus 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 can change their body color and pattern to blend with their surroundings and help them avoid predators in coral reefs.

One rabbitfish species, the 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, can become darker, paler, or show more spots so it can match its environment.

𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴 on the other hand, has a special ‘sleep disguise.’ When it sleeps at night, it hides near corals or under rocks and changes its colors and spots so it can blend in with the reef.

Rabbitfish can also change color when stressed or frightened. Their bodies usually turn paler or brownish, which may help them signal stress or reduce visibility to predators.

22/04/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝟭.𝟱𝟲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗮, 𝟰𝟱𝟬 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻
POTOTAN, Iloilo — A polyculture project led by SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) produced 1.56 metric tons of tilapia and 450 kilograms of giant freshwater prawn during a partial harvest on 8 April 2026 in Barangay Nanga.

The project used a polyculture system in which complementary aquaculture species are raised in the same pond simultaneously to maximize space, improve production efficiency, and increase potential returns for fish farmers.

The initiative sought to demonstrate that combining tilapia and giant freshwater prawn in a single production system can generate higher yields and better earnings for local fish farmers.

The harvested tilapia reached an average weight of 450 grams, while the prawn had an average weight of about 25 grams after 120 days of culture.

Tilapia fingerlings were sourced from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Western Visayas through its Provincial Agri-Aqua Researchand Technology (ART) Center in Pototan. The giant freshwater prawn fry came from SEAFDEC/AQD’s Tigbauan Main Station.

The experiment-demonstration was carried out in the freshwater ponds of the ART Center under the project “Grow-out Polyculture of Nile Tilapia and Giant Freshwater Prawn.”

Meanwhile, a total of 406 kilograms of giant freshwater prawn weighing 22 grams were also harvested on the same day from the monoculture set-up.

This project forms part of the Joint Mission for Accelerated Nationwide Technology Transfer Program and the Meeting Social and Economic Challenges in Aquaculture Program of the research center. Collaborating agencies were BFAR-6 and the Iloilo Provincial Government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

08/04/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲-𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲
SEAFDEC/AQD is conducting a seaweed grow-out project in Pandan, Antique to improve production and help local seaweed farmers overcome recurring shortages of seedlings.

The project, which commenced in November 2025, uses tissue-cultured plantlets and is implemented with the local government unit of Pandan and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 (DA-BFAR 6).

“The partnership intends to address the bottleneck in seaweed farming by providing farms with laboratory-grown seedlings that could better withstand environmental stressors,” said SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao.

The project used plantlets produced from the Seaweed Hatchery in the SEAFDEC/AQD Tigbauan Main Station. These plantlets are generally more robust and less susceptible to “ice-ice” disease, a condition caused by environmental stress that turns seaweed white and brittle.

Initial observations from the trial showed positive results, with specific growth rates ranging from 5.45% to 7.23% per day over 45 days of culture.

As of March, the project has yielded 374 kilograms. Of this, 50 kilograms were sent to farmers in Palawan through BFAR-Mimaropa, while the remainder will be transported to SEAFDEC/AQD's Igang Marine Station in Guimaras for further research.

Moreover, SEAFDEC/AQD is working with DA-BFAR to establish nursery systems in strategic seaweed farms across the country to address the nationwide shortage of quality seedlings, ensure consistent supply of tissue-cultured plantlets, improve seaweed production, and increase farmer income.

08/04/2026

07/04/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺
SEAFDEC/AQD showcased its recent advances in aquaculture breeding at the UK ASEAN Symposium on Precision Breeding held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 11–12 March 2026.

In his talk, “Overview of SEAFDEC/AQD,” Chief Dan Baliao highlighted the research center’s mandate to support fisheries development through research, human resource development, and knowledge exchange across the region.

Among the highlights of his talk were breakthroughs in the spawning and closing the life cycle of economically important species in captivity, a major step toward reducing reliance on wild-caught seeds.

𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨
Chief Baliao reported the first natural spawning of mackerel tuna in the world, and the completion of the round scad life cycle in captivity, both accomplished in 2025.

“Through captive breeding, we aim to introduce alternative species for aquaculture, reduce dependence on wild seafood supply, and strengthen regional food security,” Baliao said.

𝙋𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝
The Chief also cited several landmark achievements in aquaculture achieved in earlier years, including advances in the breeding of milkfish, black tiger shrimp, and rabbitfish.

Other notable developments include:
● Production of neofemale giant freshwater prawns, enabling faster-growing male stocks;
● Thermal manipulation techniques to induce milkfish spawning year-round; and
● Development of single-spat oysters through specialized hatchery techniques.

𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮
To sustain these advances, SEAFDEC/AQD continues to expand its research infrastructure and technical expertise.

These initiatives include the construction of multi-species hatcheries, feed mill facilities, and upgraded laboratories, along with continued local and international training for researchers and staff.

Also representing SEAFDEC/AQD at the symposium was Edgar Somblingo, head of the Dumangas Brackishwater Station.

SEAFDEC/AQD, headquartered in Tigbauan, Iloilo, operates under four thematic programs: Quality Seed for Sustainable Aquaculture; Healthy and Wholesome Aquaculture; Maintaining Environmental Integrity through Responsible Aquaculture; and Meeting Social and Economic Challenges in Aquaculture.

01/04/2026

𝟮𝟴𝟵 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗
A total of 289 seaweed farmers from three associations in Taytay, Palawan, received high- quality seedlings from SEAFDEC/AQD on 19 March 2026.

The farmers are members of the Amogues Fisherfolk Association, Sitio Calumpang Seaweeds Growers Association, and Paulangon Fisherfolk Association. They had previously raised concerns with Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. regarding the declining seaweed production in their area.

To help address this issue, SEAFDEC/AQD provided 50 kilograms of 𝘒𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘪 to the associations through the DA–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Mimaropa.

Richard Gallo, president of the Sitio Calumpang Seaweeds Growers Association, expressed gratitude to SEAFDEC/AQD.

“Sana mapalago namin ang bagong variety ng seaweeds na ito dito sa aming lugar,” he said. (𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢.)

The seaweed seedlings were produced through tissue culture at SEAFDEC/AQD in Tigbauan, Iloilo. They were derived, through micropropagation, from the youngest and fastest-growing parts of healthy parent plants to ensure high-quality planting
materials.

The seaweeds were then hardened in sea-based nurseries to prepare them for field transplantation before being shipped to Palawan.

Photo credits: Charm Leizel Estanio Gallo and Abegail Arcegono