APPENDIX 9

CURRENT STATUS AND TREND OF SEAFARMING ACTIVITIES,
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

by

Juanito B. Malig
Director
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

and

Rolando B. Edra
Chief Fishery Biologist
Fish Propagation Division
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

ABSTRACT

This information is directed to representatives of governments in the Asian Pacific Region participating in the Technical Meeting of National Project Coordinators/Directors in Bangkok, Thailand on 27–29 October 1987. It regards to enligthen participants on the existing seafarming resources of the Philippines which include among others: (a) 467.13 ha oyster farms managed by 1,805 operators producing 16,465 mt in 1986. (b) 393.35 ha mussel farms managed by 596 operators producing 12,114 mt in 1986, and (c) 4,975.73 ha Eucheuma seaweed farms managed by 4,926 operators producing 168,868 mt in 1986. The natural grounds, farming areas and potential farming sites of oyster and mussel in the Philippines are presented. The Eucheuma seaweed farming provinces are also presented. Recent developments on the farming of oyster, mussel, Eucheuma, abalone, Porphyra, Caulerpa, Gracilaria, Gelidium, Hippopus and Tridacna are discussed.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Traditionally, aquaculture in the Philippines has been based on brackishwater pond culture of milkfish. In recent years this has been expanded and diversified to include brackishwater shrimp culture, freshwater pond, pen and cage culture of tilapia and carp and mariculture or seafarming of oysters, mussels and seaweeds.

1.2 Seafarming still has the greatest potential for expansion and socio-economic impact in the Philippines due to the archipelagic nature of the country with coastal waters overexploited by sustenance fishing families. In this regard, this paper addresses the existing resources, production and potentials for development of seafarming in the Philippines.

2. EXISTING RESOURCES

2.1 Oysters

2.1.1 Four species of oysters are farmed. The species are the slipper-shaped oyster Crassostrea iredalei, the subtrigonal-oblong oyster C. malabonensis, and the curly or palm-rooted oysters C. cucullata and C. palmipes. The first two aforecited species are the most commonly farmed oysters.

2.1.2 Figure 1 shows the natural grounds of oysters which are along the coasts of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao City, Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Sorsogon and Quezon. Oysters are particularly abundant in Manila Bay from Tarnate, Cavite to Mariveles, Bataan, along the coast of Northern Luzon, Lingayen Gulf, Tayabas Bay and Sorsogon Bay.

2.1.3 Table 1 shows the area of oyster farms in operation, by province, from 1983 to 1986. Data show increasing trend of total area in operation from 488.22 ha in 1983, to 654.61 ha in 1984 and 706.9 ha in 1985 but a decrease to 467.13 in 1986.

2.2 Mussels

2.2.1 Three species of mussels are farmed. The species are the green mussel Mytilus smaragdinus = Perna viridis and the brown mussels Modiolus metcalfei and M. philippinarum. The green mussel is the most suitable species of mussels for farming as proven by its wide cultivation.

2.2.2 Figure 2 shows the natural grounds of green mussel which are along the coasts of Zambales, Bulacan, Cavite, Metro Manila, Quezon, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Sorsogon. The biggest mussel-producing areas are Bacoor Bay in Cavite, Maqueda Bay in Samar, Sapian Bay in Capiz and Manila Bay.

2.2.3 Table 2 shows the area of mussel farms in operation, by province, from 1983 to 1986. The total area in operation by year are as follows: 625.82 ha in 1983, 543.88 ha in 1984, 713.25 ha in 1985 and 393.35 ha in 1986.

2.3 Seaweeds

2.3.1 Eucheuma cottonii and E. spinosum are the the main species of seaweeds which are cultivated commercially. Caulerpa sp., however, is cultivated to some degree around Mactan Is., Cebu.

2.3.2 Figure 3 shows the regions where Eucheuma seaweed farms are operated. The provinces that have farms in operation in each region are as follows: Region IV - Palawan; Region V - Camarines Sur and Sorsogon; Region VI - Antique; Region VII - Bohol and Cebu; Region VIII - Leyte and Northern Samar; Region IX - Basilan, Sulu, Tawitawi, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; and Region XI -Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

2.3.3 Table 3 shows the areas of Eucheuma seaweed farms in operation, by province, from 1983 to 1986. The total areas in operation, by year, are as follows: 3,847.05 ha in 1983; 3,877.16 ha in 1984; 5,009.48 ha in 1985; and 4,975.73 ha in 1986.

3. PRODUCTION

3.1 Oysters

3.1.1 Three methods are used in oyster farming - the stake, hanging and broadcast methods. The stake method is applied in areas with soft muddy bottom. The hanging method uses empty oyster or coconut shells which are strung together on synthetic twine. The broadcast method is applied in areas with firm bottom.

3.1.2 Table 4 shows the production of oyster farms, by province, from 1982 to 1986. In 1986, oyster farms were located in 16 provinces and farmed by 1,805 operators. The total production was 16,465 mt and valued at 85,618.

3.2 Mussels

3.2.1 Five methods are used in mussel farming - the stake, hanging, rope-web, floating raft and tray methods. The stake method, as in oyster farming, is applied in areas with soft muddy bottom. The hanging method is carried out with plots which are constructed from any available materials such as bamboo, palm trees, mangrove trees, lumber and the like. The rope-web method uses polypropylene rope which are made into webs tied vertically to bamboo poles. The floating raft method is carried out with rafts which are made of bamboos, lumbers and others materials floated by drums or the like. The tray method uses trays rested on horizontal bars with support frames extending to the bottom of the sea by ropes or poles.

3.2.2 Table 5 shows the production of mussel farms, by province, from 1982 to 1986. In 1986, mussel farms were located in 7 provinces and farmed by 596 operators. The total production was 12,114 mt and valued at 107,210.

3.3 Seaweeds

3.3.1 Two methods are used in Eucheuma seaweed farming - the net and bottom monoline methods. The net method is carried out with floating bamboos and mangrove stake bipods and tripods where the nets are installed. The bottom monoline method uses single nylon line tied to the posts at both ends.

3.3.2 Table 6 shows the production of seaweed farms, by province, from 1982 to 1986. In 1986, Eucheuma farms were located in 15 provinces and farmed by 4,926 operators. The total production was 168,868 mt and valued at 334,359,000.

3.3.3 As mentioned earlier, Eucheuma seaweed dominates the Philippine industry. In 1986, seaweeds rank third among the fisheries exports in terms of value. A total of 32,292 mt of seaweed was exported and valued at 466,733,000. Exported seaweed products in 1986 are broken down as follows:

Seaweeds	Quantity (mt)	Value (000 )
Dried/treated	29,183	455,572
Fresh	166	3,186
Salted	77	388
Kelp meal powder	2,866	7,587
Total	32,292	466,733

4. POTENTIALS FOR DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Most of the sites close to or along tidal river basins or in estuaries have been overexploited for oyster and mussel culture. However, additional areas consisting of protected bays, coves and tidal mudflats can still be used for expansion for shellfish and seaweed farming and pen/cage culture of finfish.

4.2 In 1982, Glude, Steinberg and Stevens reported estimates of of potential areas (ha) for expansion of oyster farming as follows: Region I - Dagupan-Binmaley (100), Tambac Bay/Caquiputan Channel/ Bolinao Bay (4,000), La Union (200) and Ilocos Sur/Ilocos Norte (120); Region II - Cagayan (30); Region III - Zambales (20), Bulacan (18) and Bataan (10); Region IV - Marinduque (5), Palawan (25), Batangas (100) and Quezon (400); Region V - Camarines Norte/Camarines Sur/ Albay/Catanduanes/Masbate (30); Region VI - Capiz (500), Aklan (100), Iloilo (15), Antique (5) and Negros Occidental (100); Region VII - Cebu (100) and Bohol (100); Region VIII - Leyte (2,000) and Samar (500); Region IX - Zamboanga del Norte/Zamboanga del Sur/Basilan/ Tawi-tawi (15); Region X - Misamis Occidental/Misamis Oriental/ Surigao del Norte/Camiguin (35) and Region XI - Davao del Sur/Davao Oriental/Surigao del Sur (400). A total potential area of 9,428 ha could provide space for 47,140 farms of 0.2 ha each small fisherman.

4.3 The distribution of mussels in the country is much more limited than that of oyster. Thus, the potential areas (ha) for expansion of mussel farming occur only in Regions III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII (Glude, Steinberg and Stevens 1982) as follows: Region III - Zambales/Bulacan/Bataan (45); Region IV - Palawan (30), Quezon (200) and Romblon (5); Region V - Camarines Norte/Camarines Sur/Albay/Catanduanes/Masbate (20); Region VI - Capiz (200), Negros Occidental (10) and Antique (5); Region VII - Cebu (50) and Bohol (50); and Region VIII - Leyte (100) and Samar (4,000). A total potential area of 4,715 ha could provide space for 47,150 farms of 0.1 ha each small fisherman.

4.4 Potential sites for expansion of seaweed farming and the construction of fishpens/fishcages for the culture of finfish have been reported but estimates on the area of the sites identified are not available.

5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

5.1 Oyster and mussel farming

5.1.1 Recent developments are concerned with methods of collecting spats and developing the techniques of transplanting seedlings from established natural grounds and farming areas into pre-identified potential areas and thereby enhancing widespread development of shellfish culture into livelihood projects supplementary to sustenance capture fisheries.

5.1.2 The shellfish industry is facing the problem of direct displacement of farming areas by housing and industrial estate and environmental deterioration. Concerns are therefore directed to adequate sanitation standards and methods especially the export potential and to some extent, even local consumption of oysters and mussels. It is noteworthy to mention that the government has started training initial nationwide task force to monitor the occurrence of “killer” red tide for public safety.

5.2 Seaweed farming

5.2.1 Polyculture system in the seaweed farms is under way. Combined farming of Eucheuma and abalone is now undertaken by some seafarmers in Bohol and Cebu.

5.2.2 Porphyra, Caulerpa, Gracilaria and Gelidium are species gaining interest for farming. Porphyra and Caulerpa are recently cultivated in Northern Luzon and Mactan Island, Central Visayas, respectively.

5.3 Floating cages for milkfish breeding technology verification are operated by the government in Pangasinan, Zambales, Palawan, Albay, Iloilo, Bohol, Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, Misamis Occidental and Davao del Sur and Maguindanao. Spontaneous spawning has been reported in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bohol and Davao del Sur. Egg collection and hatchery management are being developed and verified.

5.4 Clam farming

5.4.1 Farming, using land-based nurseries and natural coral reefs, of Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna squamosa, T. maxima, T. derasa and T. gigas is under way in the Central Visayas. Cooperative projects on T. gigas giant clam farming and conservation with resort owners, government officials and Eucheuma farmers are being established.

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

BFAR/ADB/AGRODEV Canada Inc. 1986 Second aquaculture development project Philippines, final report. Vol. I, II, III & IV, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 766 p.

BFAR, Statistics. 1982–86 Vol. 32, 33, 34, 35 & 36, Quezon City, Philippines.

Camacho, A.S. and N.M. Lagua. 1987 Country paper and overview of the Philippine aquaculture industry. (Paper presented at the Seminar on Aquaculture Development in Southeast Asia (ADSEA), sponsored by SEAFDEC and Government of Japan, September 8–13, 1987, Iloilo City, Philippines.)

Edra, R.B. 1987 Status of inland fishery resources of the Philippines. (Paper presented at the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning initiated by DA-BFAR with the assistance of UNDP-FAO, March 16–20, 1987, Baguio City, Philippines.)

Glude, J.B., M.A. Steinberg and R.C. Stevens. 1982 The feasibility of oyster and mussel farming by municipal fishermen in the Philippines. FAO - SCS/82/WP/103, Manila Philippines: 95 p.

PCARRD. 1983 The Philippine recommends for mussels and oysters. Tech. Bul. Series No. 26-A, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines: 46 p.

Ricohermoso, M.A. 1987 Seaweed industry in the Philippines. (Paper presented at the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning initiated by DA-BFAR with the assistance of UNDP-FAO, March 16–20, 1987, Baguio City, Philippines.)

Table 1. Area of oyster farms in operation by province 1983–1986

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Table 2. Area of mussel farms in operation by province 1983–1986

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Table 3. Area of seaweed farms in operation by province 1983–1986

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Table 4. Production of oyster farms by province 1982–1986

Province/Year		1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
	Value ()	75704	48633	95010	78019	85618
	No. of Operators	No data	1538	1523	1610	1805
	Total Philippines (mt)	19002	11310	14617	15268	16465
I.	Pangasinan	100	4324	5305	5936	7532
	Ilocos Norte	-	6	7	8	1
	Ilocos Sur	-	13	16	12	148
	La Union	-	616	756	612	403
II.	Cagayan	-	-	-	10	9
III.	Bulacan	5061	2148	2792	3068	390
	Bataan	3	-	-	-	-
	Zambales	7	-	-	97	97
IV.	Cavite	6600	2040	3500	2592	5312
V.	Sorsogon	70	273	20	54	121
	Masbate	-	6	-	5	5
	Camarines Sur	-	-	-	3	2
VI.	Capiz	1934	1509	1697	2300	522
	Iloilo	3	2	2	5	36
	Aklan	3592	10	11	36	4
	Negros Occidental	1566	356	400	519	1876
	Antique	-	-	-	4	-
VIII.	Northern Samar	-	-	100	-	-
IX.	Basilan	15	-	-	-	-
	Sulu	15	-	-	-	-
	Tawi-tawi	23	-	-	-	-
	Zamboanga del Norte	2	-	-	-	-
	Zamboanga del Sur	11	-	-	-	-
XI.	Davao del Sur	-	7	11	7	7

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Table 5. Production of mussel farms by province 1982–1986

	Province/Year	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
	Value ()	37470	120289	162448	200719	107210
	No. of Operators	No data	365	307	527	596
	Total Philippines (mt)	6308	18506	20306	22680	12114
III.	Bataan	4	-	-	-	-
	Zambales	-	-	-	95	95
IV.	Cavite	3105	3660	6518	5550	5675
V.	Sorsogon	-	-	-	1	2
VI.	Aklan	342	29	26	342	163
	Capiz	2463	295	264	2460	531
	Iloilo	3	-	-	3	-
	Negros Occidental	251	10062	8998	6887	306
VIII.	Western Samar	-	-	-	3720	1720
IX.	Basilan	5	-	-	-	-
	Sulu	15	-	-	-	-
	Tawi-tawi	3	-	-	-	-
	Zamboanga del Norte	40	-	-	-	-
	Zamboanga del Sur	8	-	-	-	-
XI.	Davao Oriental	1	-	-	-	-
NCR Metro Manila		68	4460	4500	3622	3622

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Table 6. Production of seaweed farms by province 1982–1986

	Province/Year	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
	Value (000 )	228293	251188	281334	303690	334359
	No. of Operators	No data	4900	4615	5174	4926
	Total Philippines (mt)	108711	132204	142088	182946	168868
IV.	Palawan	4385	1975	1800	1920	1920
V.	Sorsogon	-	-	-	-	5
	Camarines Sur	-	-	-	1	1
VI.	Iloilo	1200	-	-	-	-
	Antique	23	-	-	22	-
VII.	Bohol	16240	16829	18512	21012	11333
	Cebu	-	-	-	175	175
VIII.	Leyte	180	4650	4340	4850	3960
	Northern Samar	-	-	-	-	3
IX.	Basilan	4540	3100	3265	5200	5738
	Sulu	4380	3950	4160	5750	5750
	Tawi-tawi	59330	89925	94701	121910	116756
	Zamboanga del Norte	2346	1200	1560	1440	1350
	Zamboanga del Sur	16087	10575	13744	20375	21585
XI.	Davao del Sur	-	-	-	46	26
	Davao del Norte	-	-	-	-	21
	Surigao del Sur	-	-	6	245	245

Note: Dash (-) means no data available or incomplete data

Source: BFAR Fisheries Statistics

Figure 1. Natural oyster grounds, farming areas and potential farming sites in the Philippines. (Adapted from: Glude, J.B., M.A. Steinberg and R.C. Stevens 1982. SCS/82/WP/103.)

Figure 2. Natural green mussel grounds, farming areas and potential farming sites in the Philippines. (Adapted from: Glude, J.B., M.A. Steinberg and P.C. Stevens 1982. SCS/82/WP/103.)

Figure 3. Eucheuma seaweed farming provinces in the Philippines