July 22, 2013

As it records to have high level of market acceptance in the US and Europe, the Philippine government is grooming the pompano fish industry to be export-competitive in the next five years.

To accomplish this, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will increase support for the production of pompano in the mariculture zones of Region 4A and Region 11.

Under its medium term development roadmap for the pompano industry, BFAR will continue to explore new breeding methods, develop low cost feeds, and develop sustainable development protocols.

Other interventions in support of the industry such as credit extension, provision of more port harvest infrastructure, marketing and promotion and capacity building will also be pursued within the next five years

BFAR director Asis Perez said they are optimistic that technological developments will eventually lead to substantial reduction in operating costs of raising pompano.

He noted that although the initial inputs for raising pompano are higher, the farm-gate prices of the fish are double than that of bangus.

Pompano fish can be sold for PHP280 (US$6.47) to PHP320 (US$7.40) per kilogramme (kg), while production cost is placed at PHP160 (US$3.70) to PHP180/kg (US$4.16).

Mass production of pompano by cage farming was found to be effective as the fish readily adapts to the culture environment and grows at a uniform rate.