Enhancing the fishery resources in Philippine lakes: The Philippine national inland fisheries enhancement program

Abstract

This article is based on the paper presented by Dr. Adelaida L. Palma during the Symposium on Strategy for Fisheries Resources Enhancement in the Southeast Asian Region organized by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center on 27-30 July 2015 in Pattaya, Thailand. In her paper, Dr. Palma discussed the efforts of the Philippines through its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Inland Fisheries Technology Center (IFTC) in enhancing fish production from 36 lakes and reservoirs in the sixteen regions of the country. Specifically, BFAR-IFTC conducts research and develops rehabilitation measures for indigenous freshwater fish species, e.g. Leiopotherapon plumbeus, Anabas testudineus, Clarias macrocephalus, Ophicephalus striatus. As part of the promotion of its initiatives, BFAR-IFTC established a network of private hatcheries to sustain the fish fingerling requirements. A prototype model of such initiatives is the physical restoration and reconstruction of the fisheries in 7-ha Dagatan Lake.