Culture of Pompano in Bolinao, Pangasinan

There is a current craze for pompano culture in cape Bolinao, Pangasinan.  The shift in species was due to the erratic production of milkfish brought about by pollution and its high production cost and low market price of the harvested fish.

After years of searching for an alternate fish suitable for culture in the area, pompano seem to be the answer to the prayers of most Bolinao cage operators.  According to them, it is a very hardy.  In fact, when “fish kill” occurred sometime in 2004, milkfish pen and cage operators suffered heavy losses while pompano did not incur any mortality.  Another proof of its hardiness is its capability of being transported live for 6-7 hrs (from Bolinao to Manila) in oxygenated plastic bags.  Thus, commanding an even higher market price.

The production cost of Pompano culture is relatively high as compared to milkfish primarily because of the high cost of commercial feeds available in the market.  The feed should contain at least 42% protein, which probably account for its high cost.  However, table size chilled Pompano costs 2-3x more as compared to milkfish and as much as P280. / kg ex farm when sold live.

There are at least 2 species of pompano cultured commercially in the world.  One is the Florida Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, dubbed as the highest prized finfish in Florida waters and the other is the Snub-nose Pompano, T. blockii.  The later is the species currently being cultured in the Philippines.

According to literatures, the Snub-nose Pompano is indigenous in the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, Japan and South Australia.  The International name for the fish are Snub-nose Pompano are Silver Pompano.  Locally, the fish is known as simply ‘Pampano’ or ‘Pampanong puti’.  It is also sometimes inadvertently called “Talakitok” because it resembles the jacks, which by the way is a very close relative.

Cage Culture of Pompano in Bolinao

The fingerlings of Pompano in Bolinao come from a private hatchery in Mindanao.  Apparently, the fingerling supply is very limited and this hampers the growth of the industry in the area.   The high demand for fingerlings in Bolinao alone makes the price of a ½ inch fingerlings soar to as much as P14.00 each. 

Each of the 18x18x8 m floating cages can be stocked by as mush as 50,000 fingerlings.  The fish are raised initially in mesh 24 nets for one month and then transferred to mesh 22 nets where they will be grown for another 2 months.  The final grow-out is carried out in mesh 17 nets.

During the early stage of their growth, feeding is up to satiation using Pompano fry mash and crumble.  Thereafter, feeding with the Pampano starter, grower and finisher are at 5% of their body weight daily.  To save on the cost of commercial feeds, the fish are fed intermittently with fresh mussel meat, oysters and small shrimps that are abundant in Bolinao depending on the season.  Chopped tilapia meat is also given when the fish is around 3 months old.

Partial harvest of the fish starts after 4 1/2 to 5 months.  This is done by selecting the bigger, 400g and above in weight.  This by the way is the size that commands a premium price in the market.  Final harvest is done after 6 months.  A high recovery rate of as much as 90% have been realized by most of the growers in the area.

When marketed chilled, Pompano are never iced directly like the milkfish.  This is because direct contact of the fish in ice makes them look very pale.  Instead, they are first placed in plastic bags, sealed and iced.

There is an export market for chilled or frozen Pompano.  Based on the posted weekly price of the fish in Hongkong, Pompano commands as much as USD 5/kg.  In all indications, there will not be a large fluctuation in the price of the fish when there is an oversupply due to the presence of the export market.

This article was published in the October 2006 issue of Agriculture magazine by the author