7.1 The waters of Laguna de Bay are rich in natural foods for fish and could support greatly increased fishery production, which would yield corresponding increased economic returns.
7.2 The major species of the Laguna de Bay fish catch are of low market value and do not fully utilize the components of the natural food supply.
7.3 One of the ways to increase fish production from the lake is by fish culture with proper species combinations. Because lands around the lake are very costly and many areas are unsuitable for pond construction, the possibility of fish culture within the lake, utilizing fish pens, corrals or diked enclosures, should be determined. Because the practice of intensive fish culture within lake enclosures is new, experimental work is essential.
7.4 Species already in the Philippines are well suited for fish culture, except that the introduction of T. nilotica in addition to the existing T. mossambica would greatly improve size and market value of tilapia. This species will also fill one of the niches in the lake waters.
7.5 The first priority requirement of a fish culture programme is establishment of a hatchery and experimental station to undertake fingerling production and experimental work on all aspects of fish culture.
7.6 The LLDA is authorized, staffed and highly motivated to carry out all aspects of a fish culture development programme in the Laguna de Bay. Technical assistance from UNDP and from other programmes, on an immediate basis, would greatly aid and facilitate the regional fishery development programme of the Authority.
7.7 The high cost of imported feeds makes it very desirable to concentrate experimental work on the utilization of feeds of local formulation.
7.8 The United Nations report proposals for development of fish ponds at Lumban and East Bay appear to be too costly, too complex for operation and the feasibility is not supported by current freshwater fish production experience in the Philippines. Floating net cage proposals in both the United Nations and LLDA programmes do not warrant high priority because they require costly imported feeds and involve problems of introduction of a wholly new species, i.e. the channel catfish. This can, however, be tried on local catfish species if the proper feed available would work out.
7.9 Preliminary studies of pen-corral-lake enclosure development show very favourable potential economic returns and development opportunities.
