Milkfish aquaculture in the Philippines: an overview

Milkfish farming has been, and will remain the backbone of Philippine aquaculture. To date, over 260,000 ha of brackishwater ponds, 6, 700 ha of freshwater pens and about 500 ha of marine pens and cages are used to culture this fish. Average milkfish annual production since 1990 is 206,840 mt valued at over ten billion pesos. Annual per capita consumption of milkfish is about 2 kg or 7. 5 % of the total fish (26. 8 kg/per capita) consumed by every Filipino. By the year 2020, the population is predicted to reach 112 million and will require 224,000 mt of milkfish. If production growth rate is maintained at 2.3%, an estimated 400,000 mt will be produced by the year 2020 generating surplus production of close to 200,000 mt. The development of value-added products from the surplus produce will be needed to enhance acceptability of milkfish in the export market and the changing food preference of younger generations. This paper presents a brief overview of the current status of the milkfish industry in the Philippines. Details of, breeding and hatchery technologies, farming systems, marketing, value-added products and research and development are in the various chapters of this book.