Philippines' 2Q tiger prawn production surges by 96 percent
Philippines' tiger prawn production made a big leap in the second quarter of 2008 by 96 percent, from 136.93 million tonnes in the same period in 2007 to 3.16 billion tonnes, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), high value aquaculture species such as tiger prawns have been showing signs of growth due to increased stocking and farmers' exposure to proper cultural management practices.
BFAR Director Malcom Sarmiento Jr. stated that the production increase was attributed to the 2,309 hectares of brackishwater fishponds that shifted to tiger prawn from bangus culture in Bulacan, particularly, in the towns of Hagonoy and Paombong.
The DA has also been targeting to produce 100,000 million tonnes of shrimp in 5 years, mainly due to the large-scale production of Pacific white shrimp (vannamei). This increased amount will mean more exports as 40 percent of the country's shrimp production is brought to countries like Japan, Korea, US, Canada, and Guam.
Shrimp expansion has been evident in the second quarter as compared to last year. Lanao Del Norte had a 34.76 percent increase, Zamboanga Sibugay with 6.45 percent, and Pampanga with 5.93 percent.
Catfish, on the other hand, had a significant growth of 44.3 percent, particularly due to expanding areas in Bulacan, Davao City, Laguna, Iloilo, and Camarines Sur.