Tilapia Culture in Freshwater Ponds and Cages: Advances in Fertilization and Feeding Practices

Ma Rowena R. Eguia (SEAFDEC, AQD-BFS) and
Ruel V. Eguia (CDO Foodsphere, Inc.
This paper was presented at Fishlink 2010, 20-22 Sept 2010 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City

This is a very interesting article on reducing the cost of Tilapia culture in the Philippines.  The reason why the Philippines is having difficulty in exporting our Tilapia produce is our production cost is higher as compared to our Asean counterparts.  If our aim to be competitive or simply increase the profitability of Tilapia culture,  reducing feed cost is surely one aspect that is worth considering.  Here is the link.

Hot Weather And Poor Tilapia Egg Production

It is surprising that despite a major problem in Philippine aquaculture such as very low production of tilapia fry and fingerlings in the past months of March to July 2010, the people and government agencies involved in tilapia aquaculture have been silent about it.

Apparently, the El Nino effect has taken its toll on the tilapia industry.  There was minimal production of fry and fingerlings during these times such that its effect is felt now.  The price of table-sized tilapia has increased at a record-breaking high due to lack of supply.  The situation can worsen and will be felt in the months ahead until November or December since fry/fingerling production normalized only sometime in August when it started to rain.

Tilapia Cage Farming: A New Enterprise for Small Fishermen

Here is an interesting video on Tilapia cage farming.  This is a very old video but is still a good eye opener for those who may be interested to venture in this business.

This is a production of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department.

Intensive Culture of Tilapia in Tanks II. Hatchery & Nursery Operations

The business of raising Tilapia does not involve growing the fingerlings to marketable size alone. Another profit center in this enterprise that can even be more profitable is the hatchery and nursery operations. The higher profitability of these operations relies on the fact that the feed input is much less than the grow-out operations. Furthermore, in terms of the turn-over rates, the hatchery operations takes only about a week while the nursery operation takes about one month as compared to the four to five months it will take before the marketable sized fish is sold.

Similar to the grow-out culture, the hatchery and nursery of tilapia in tanks offers a solution to increased production at a limited space as compared to the traditional pond and cage culture systems. It also minimizes the risk of crop loss due to typhoons and inundation. Furthermore, intensification of culture means less exploitation of the area and more effective management and controlled operation. It is envisioned that it is only through the tank system that aquaculture can be “industrialized” by providing better control and predictable production levels.

Intensive Culture of Tilapia in Tanks I. Grow-out Culture- Tank Design & Operations)

Many are interested in the culture of Tilapia in tanks because of the advantages it offers: first,  less space is needed, second,  better management control, third, less labor is needed, fourth, better quality of fish produced, and fifth, less risk of loss of stocks due to typhoons and flooding.

Its only disadvantage is- it is more expensive to construct and because no natural food can be produced, feeding will depend entirely on commercial feeds.  Encouraged by these reasons, many have actually ventured into this business but failed because of lack of information on the system requirements.  The design of the tank system together with the life support system is crucial to the operations and will determine the success or failure of this business.

WHY IS THE PHILIPPINES NOT EXPORTING TILAPIA?*

Since the introduction of the Nile Tilapia in the Philippines by the Central Luzon State University in the 1970’s and the popularization of its cage culture in Laguna Lake by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Station in Binangonan, Rizal in 1979, the culture and production of Tilapia has progressed in leaps and bounds. Its culture has expanded not only in fish scarce areas like the upland provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela but also in areas where marine fishes abounds like Bicol and some provinces in Mindanao. Today, Tilapia is cultured in all regions of the country in ponds, tanks, cages and pens in freshwater, brackishwater and marine waters.