One of the cited reasons for this is the damage caused by destructive typhoons in the last quarter of 2009. 

 

Despite its meagre increase, the aqua sector still sustained its good performance as the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported better water quality and lesser mortality from brackishwater species in Pampanga, Tarlac and Antique. BAS also cited good market demand, proper pond management, good quality tiger prawn and crablets as well as usage of commercial feeds in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

 

Meanwhile, bigger sizes of freshwater pen species and availability of funds to operate were reported in Maguindanao and also contributed to the growth. Favourable weather conditions and availability of locally produced planting materials from the Bureau of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources (BFAR) encouraged seaweed farmers in Palawan, Camarines Norte and Tawi-Tawi while area for crop also expanded due to high demand throughout the year. 

 

BFAR and BAS to date are still crunching the total figures but both agencies concluded that compared to previous years, the year 2009 definitely didn’t bode well for aquaculture.

 

 

Weather experts regarded Ondoy and Pepeng (with international names Ketsana and Parma respectively) as the most destructive storms to hit the country in 40 years.

 

Ondoy inundated Manila and nearby provinces with a 24-hour rainfall, which according to local weather bureau PAG-ASA, is equivalent to a month's downpour. Pepeng, packing sustained winds of 200 kilometres per hour, was of supertyphoon status and stayed for two weeks and rampaged Northern Luzon and nearby areas.

 

According to the latest tally by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the deadly duo resulted to PHP210 million (US$4.51 million) in damages and devastated major producing regions of Ilocos and Central Luzon. 

Nevertheless, the DA still has high hopes for aquaculture, earmarking PHP1 billion (US$21.49 million) for 2010 as part of its plan to develop the industry's economic prospects. BFAR and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC), along with other foreign agencies will carry out aquaculture projects in Visayas and Mindanao which will implement new technologies for mud crab and grouper production as well as new freshwater management techniques in the towns of Dumrao in Capiz and in the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Northern Samar. 

 

According to SEAFDEC director Dr. Joebert Toledo, these projects will also involve building an aquamarine park which includes constructing fish cages and multi-hatchery of different species with BFAR and SEAFDEC providing research, technology generation, training, information and aquatic stock enhancement under international concerns.

 

The industry has more reasons to rejoice. Charoen Pokphand Foods - Thailand's largest agribusiness group - is investing PHP2.36 billion (US$50.86 million) on aquafeed production in Capas, Tarlac. The facility, which will be completed by January 2011, is located on an eight- to ten-hectare area along the town's national highway and is seen to produce an annual capacity of 114,000 tonnes. CPF also plans to set up a shrimp feedmill in Cebu with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes a year. Trade players say these investments are perceived to boost the tremendous potentials of aquatic production in the country as well as the revival of the shrimp industry.

 

Two US companies have also pledged major aquaculture investments from the series of US trade missions made last year. Verdant Ocean and Novick Industries is set to pour US$3 million and US$15 million respectively for aquaculture and seafood business this year. Huge business transactions from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are also set to begin by middle of 2010.

 

Another project in the pipeline is the re-introduction of organic aquaculture. As concerns for food safety continue to escalate, BFAR and SEAFDEC deem it appropriate to come up with aqua products that are free from chemical substances.

 

"Source of fingerlings (for organic aquaculture) will not come from the wild but it has to bred, rearing system is of low-stocking density so as to avoid disease outbreaks and you are using recycled feeds or fish offals for fishmeal. Bangus for instance will be again fed with lab-lab or algae or other micro-organisms that can be found in ponds. Definitely no GM soy or GM feed is included in feeds, no chemicals will be involved in rearing" shares Toledo, adding that the system might sound relatively new but it is actually being practiced in some parts of the country particularly in areas that are campaigning for organic food such as Negros Occidental. 

 

BFAR chief Malcolm Sarmiento says organic aquaculture offers a lot of promise particularly in pangasius where the BFAR head mused at the fish as exciting. "We all know that pangasius global trade is dominated by Vietnam and we cannot compete with them but with organic pangasius, I think we might have an edge because this is relatively new.  This is exciting. The world market is becoming health-conscious and the Philippines' potentials for organic pangasius will be vast."

 

Unlike other agri-sectors that are dreading AFTA, Sarmiento says the aquaculture sector is likely to benefit from the agreement. "We have a favourable balance of trade. Our exports last year amounted to PHP26 billion (US$560 million) while we imported only PHP6 billion (US$129 million). With reduced tariff, it would be more favourable to us with more exports. I would say that whatever challenges that would come our way, we can manage because our products can compete even those that are coming from abroad and even with reduced tariff. Plus we have our own adequate supply and our people prefer locally-grown species rather than imported ones," the BFAR chief said.

 

While aquaculture bodes well for 2010, Sarmiento sees to it that the industry takes precautions, particularly of its natural habitat. "Our concern is that aquaculture will be sustainable because if you do not practice caution, aquaculture will destroy the environment. We draw more production from aquaculture, we bank on aquaculture for growth but we should balance it to see that aquaculture will not harm the environment. Taking into consideration that our marine catch is dwindling, we should not abuse the aquaculture's natural territory because for years to come, our marine resources will definitely come from aquaculture."