12 DECEMBER 2014 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG sector to recover from a contraction in growth the previous year (BAS 2014). It has had an average annual growth rate in production volume of 8.6 percent from 1997 to 2008, and the production value is now nearly triple the amount in 1996 (BAS 2014, CountrySTAT Philippines 2012). Philippine aquaculture involves many species and farming systems. As of 2007, there are 16 reported aquaculture species, among which four are considered most important: seaweeds, milkfish Chanos chanos, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (BFAR 2011, Sumagsay-Chavoso 2007). In 2011, seaweed was the greatest contributor to production at 70.6 percent (1.84 million t); followed by milkfish, 14.3 percent (372,580 t); tilapia, 9.9 percent (257,385 t); shrimps and prawns, 1.9 percent (50,159 t); and others, 3.3 percent (87,162 t) (BFAR 2011). Seaweeds. There are two groups of farmed seaweeds in the Philippines, those which are extracted for industrial chemicals, such as Eucheuma spp., and edible species, mainly Caulerpa spp. Research on new seaweed strains (Kappaphycus spp.) has been undertaken in 2008 to generate fast-growing, disease-resistant seaweeds for commercial farming (SEAFDEC/AQD 2008). The Philippines is the world’s largest producer of farmed Eucheuma (BFAR-PHILMINAQ 2007). Milkfish. Locally known as bangus, milkfish is the country’s national fish, having a high level of consumer acceptance and the largest share of farmed foodfish production. In 2001-2005, the Philippines was consistently the top milkfish producer in the world, and has increased growth rate over the recent years (BFAR 2008). Meanwhile, milkfish processing is a growing industry in the country. Fish are deboned before they undergo marinating or smoking to make them more palatable to the current younger generation, who are often deterred by its bony features. “Boneless bangus,” as it is called, is a uniquely popular Philippine product (Yap et al. 2007). Tilapia. Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) was first introduced to the Philippines from Thailand in 1950. Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) was first introduced in 1972 and has since gained wide acceptance among farmers and consumers (Yap 1999). It is the main tilapia species cultured in the Philippines and in 2013 the country Fish pens using bamboo poles for enclosure at SEAFDEC/AQD, Binangonan Freshwater station, Rizal, Philippines. Photo by J.A. Ragaza. Lake-based cages at SEAFDEC/AQD, Binangonan Freshwater station, Rizal, Philippines. Photo by J.A. Ragaza. swamplands, fishponds, lakes, rivers and reservoirs (Yap 1999, BFAR 2011). With its extensive aquatic resources, the country was the fifth top fish producer in the world in 2010. However, total production has decreased at a rate of 3.6 percent, from 5.16 million t in 2010 to 4.97 million t in 2011. Nonetheless, total export value was US$ 871 million while import value was US $217 million, leaving a positive trade balance of US$ 654 million. Overall, the fishery sector contributed 1.9 percent (US$ 4.23 billion) and 2.2 percent (US$ 3.02 billion) at current and constant prices respectively of the country’s GDP (US$ 224.79 billion at current prices and US$ 136.79 billion at constant prices) (BFAR 2010a, BFAR 2011). Annual performance of Philippine fisheries is attributed to three subsectors: municipal (small-scale) fisheries, commercial fisheries and aquaculture. Municipal and commercial sectors are distinguished by fishing location and vessel capacity—the municipal sector involves capture operations in inland and coastal areas with or without the use of a vessel not exceeding 3 gross t, while commercial fisheries is done in offshore waters using vessels of at least 3 gross t. Aquaculture is defined as the cultivation and farming of aquatic plants and animals in inland, coastal and marine areas (FAO 2001). Among the three subsectors, aquaculture made the greatest contribution to fish production in 2011, with 52.4 percent (2.61 million t), followed by the municipal sector with 26.8 percent (1.33 million t) and commercial sector with 20.8 percent (1.03 million t) (BFAR 2011). Status of Philippine Aquaculture Philippine aquaculture can be traced to the fourteenth century, starting with the use of traditional, low-density pond culture of milkfish (Lopez 2006). Only in the 1940s was aquaculture recognized as an important industry, with 20,000 t of production, and since then has grown rapidly (Yap 1999). Total aquaculture production has increased from 0.29 million t in 1980 to 2.54 million t in 2012 (CountrySTAT Philippines 2012), comprising 42.5 percent of total fisheries output in 2013. Its steady growth, together with increased commercial fishery production, allowed the fishery
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