BFAR eyes growth of Red Tilapia industry

DAVAO DEL NORTE, October 22 (PIA) - - With the development of raising Red Tilapia at sea, a fish expert forecasted the growth of the industry starting next year.

Mohammad Jailani, provincial fishery officer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said that because of the advancement of new technology that enables the Red Tilapia or the King Fish to survive in the sea water, more growers will be enticed to breed the specie.

Jailani revealed that based on the study, raising the Red Tilapia at sea is more feasible than Bangus, which covers more than 90% of the production of the Mariculture Park nowadays.

He added that raising Red Tilapia in fish cages will cost around P-300,000 per a 10,000 fish-capacity cages.

“This has a 90%-95% survival rate and the produce, which can weigh to around 500 kilograms in four months, can be sold in the market at P130-150 per kilo,” he said.

“Because of the sustainability and lesser investment requirements, we are encouraging the fish cage owners of the Panabo to also try breeding Red Tilapia,” Jailani said.

Jailani emphasized that the technology was formulated by Pedro Pacatang, a fish cage owner in the Mariculture Park of Panabo City.

Pacatang is a fish breeder and owner of Aqua Peñon Hatchery located in Carmen, Davao del Norte, who for 12 years studied different strains of fishes including Tilapia.

To date according to BFAR records, five fish cages in the Panabo Mariculture Park breeds Red Tilapia.

Jailani revealed that for next year, they target to have 30% of the fish cages in the Mariculture Park to raise Red Tilapia.

He also disclosed that as of now, international buyers in Singapore, Japan and hongkong showed interest in buying fresh Red Tilapia.

Pacatang added that around 10 kilos of live Red Tilapia have been sent to Hongkong this month for samples to interested buyer.

“When this market will be institutionalized, we will be needing tons of Red Tilapia a week,” Jailani said. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)