Carreon-Lagoc, Julia

English

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department Institutional Repository (SEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository )

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture DepartmentSEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository http://repository.seafdec.org.phJournals/Magazines Aqua Farm News1996Working together to save shrimpCarreon-Lagoc, JuliaAquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterCarreon-Lagoc, J. (1996). Working together to save shrimp. Aqua Farm News, 14(4-5), 30.http://hdl.handle.net/10862/2438Downloaded from http://repository.seafdec.org.ph, SEAFDEC/AQD's Institutional Repositoryoption 6 NETWORKINGWorking together to save shrimpTHE NETWORK OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH or NAAH was formed to take up arms against the nemesis of the shrimp industry: the luminous bacteria. It is national in scope, with three par­ticipating agencies: AQD, the Philippine Coun­cil for Aquatic and Marine Research and Devel­opment (PCAMRD), and the Bureau of Fisher­ies and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).A spin-off of NAAH is the Task Force Oplan- Sagip-sugpo (transl. Save-the-Shrimp) (see next page). This group aims to come up with solu­tions to rehabilitate the shrimp industry and map out strategies for its sustainability."We need appropriate technologies for each culture system," stressed AQD Chief Dr. Rolando Platon, "including extensive (stocking density: 1 -3 shrimp per m2), semi-intensive (3-10 per m2), and intensive (higher than 10 per m2).""There is always a tendency for the industry to go intensive which becomes dangerous when the organic matter exceeds the capacity of the receiving water to break it down. The pollution expelled by the overcrowded animals them­selves, the excess feeds and other organic wastes wreak havoc on our rivers and other waterways."Thus for environmental reasons, AQD does not and will not recommend the intensive sys­tem which many pond operators practice for prof­it’s sake. But Dr. Platon believes that the present intensive fishfarmers should not be left alone with their problems. “We should deal with these in­tensive farms and the wastes they produce. We should come up with technology appropriate for their use.”Meanwhile, AQD has advised shrimp farm­ers to try polyculture with commodities such as seaweeds and molluscs. The “cleansing” effect of seaweeds and molluscs in shrimp ponds is an ongoing study at AQD.An industry practitioner and consultant be­fore he became AQD Chief, Dr. Platon said NAAH will put in place a strong monitoring sys­tem. “When something is wrong, everybody must know about it. AQD is going to be the center or headquarters of the network.”Dr. Platon showed the gravity of the shrimp problem by citing the decline in production caused largely by the luminous bacteria: 30,000 tons in 1991, down to 22,000 tons in 1992, to20,000 tons in 1996. All these on a culture area of 47,000 hectares. He said other countries, In­donesia and India for instance, have more ar­eas to develop into shrimp ponds. In the Philip­pines, because of limited land space, most farm­ers went intensive, stocking as high as 300,000-500,000 fry per hectare, resulting in pollution, fish diseases and mortalities.NAAH will have to strike a happy medium between profitability and the sustainability of the ecosystem. The industry practitioners are cry­ing out to aquaculture scientists for help. AQD which is at the heart of NAAH must answer the call for technology. By J. Carreon-Lagoc3 0  Aqua Farm News Vol. XIV (Nos. 4 & 5) July-October 1996

Working together to save shrimp

https://repository.seafdec.org.ph/bitstream/10862/2438/1/AFNv14n04-05_p30.pdf

Working together to save shrimp

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Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department Institutional Repository (SEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository )