Known for its tasty flesh, silver therapon, locally known as ayungin, has been regarded to be one of the most valuable edible native freshwater species in the Philippines. Demands for this fish species remain high which caused the wild stock supply to decline. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, catch for this fish has deteriorated from 4,765 metric tons in 2002 to only 1,408 metric tons in 2018.

Due to this growing concern, a hatchery technique was devised by an AQD scientist to aid the deteriorating population of the species in the Philippine waters. This protocol, just like other technologies developed by SEAFDEC/AQD, will be for free and open to fish farmers interested to venture into ayungin culture. This new system of growing ayungin larvae in captivity was granted a patent by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) in 2019, published in Volume 22, Number 124 of the office’s official gazette.

This manual contains the patented technique which will provide current knowledge on the biology, breeding, and seed production of ayungin. It aims to serve as a useful reference for students, aquaculturists, researchers, government fishery agency personnel who are interested in the breeding and culture of the native fish species.

Refinements on the technology for seed production and rearing of this specific species are still being continued. SEAFDEC/AQD is aiming to conduct more research in the development of nursery and grow-out technology. The Department is also gearing towards developing techniques for bigger culture systems which will be fit for commercial production. This is to help stakeholders and the industry boosts the economy through the production of this endemic species.

Aya, F. A., & Garcia, L. M. B. (2020). Biology and hatchery rearing of the silver therapon Leiopotherapon plumbeus. Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines: Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.