Developing Philippine Coastal and Oceanic Aquaculture for Food Security and Livelihood Generation

Abstract

The fisheries of the Philippines are dominated by aquaculture, the farming of animals and plants for food and other products. With declining fish stocks in marine waters because of overfishing and habitat degradation, more than 1.7 million small fisherfolk dependent on fishing for their livelihood are among the country’s “poorest of the poor”. More than 70% of the total aquaculture production comes from coastal aquaculture with the farming of seaweeds, oysters, and mussels in open coastal waters (<200 m deep) and milkfish and other fishes in pens and floating cages. Oceanic aquaculture, farming in the deep sea (>200 m), is still in its infancy in the country. Mariculture parks such as the Panabo City Mariculture Park in Davao del Norte are a model for an integrated approach to sustainable coastal aquaculture. Expansion of coastal aquaculture in the country requires the dissemination of improved varieties of seaweeds to farmers and management of the ‘ice-ice” disease. Meanwhile, for the cage culture of milkfish and species, the establishment of more hatcheries/nurseries and the development of efficient and cost-effective feeds are needed. The creation of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is endorsed to give more support and attention for the further development and sustainability of the country’s coastal and oceanic aquaculture for food security and livelihood generation.