Aquashading tech for increased tilapia seed production undergoes validation
By Jel Santos
Through its Aquaculture Research and Development Division (ARDD), the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) is now implementing a research project to validate Central Luzon State University's (CLSU’s) aquashading technology.
The technology aims to increase tilapia seed production and ensure income for the country's tilapia hatchery and grow-out operators.
CLSU's Freshwater Aquaculture Center developed aquashading technology, which uses greenhouse nets installed over the pond to provide shade for the cultured tilapia. The shade effect reduces water temperature by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, increasing the fish's chance of reproducing more fish by 100 percent in both pond-based and hapa-based systems. Early adopters of this technology saw a 14 percent return on investment (ROI) and a payback period of less than two years.
NFRDI funded the "Verification of CLSU's Aquashading Technology in Different Agro-climatic Conditions" project to assess the technical performance of aquashade technology, with or without shading, in Type I and Type III agro-climatic conditions.
Doctor Joseph Christopher Rayos, project leader and chief of NFRDI-ARDD, said aquashade technology lowers water temperature to make it more conducive to breeding and increases Tilapia seed production in ponds.
“The reduction of water temperature during the hottest hours of the day can significantly increase the spawning rate and seed production,” he explained,
This technology, according to him, will “definitely benefit our fish farmers through increased production and attain fish sufficiency.”
The Philippines has four climate types, according to the Modified Corona's Classification of Climate: Type I (dry from November to April and wet the rest of the year); Type II (no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to February); Type III (no very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only one to three months); and Type IV (no very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only one to three months) (rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year).
The NFRDI's Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center (FFRDC) in Butong, Taal, Batangas with Type I climate and the NFRDI's Brackishwater Fisheries Research and Development Center (BFRDC) in Lala, Lanao del Norte with Type III climate are the sites for two proposed on-station verification studies. For possible outside funding, the other two proposed sites are in Samar and Pangasinan.
The project preparations kicked off on March 8 at the BFRDC in Lala, Lanao del Norte. The project also aims to increase hatchery production of tilapia fingerlings and validate the technology's cost efficiency.
The technology aims to increase tilapia seed production and ensure income for the country's tilapia hatchery and grow-out operators.
CLSU's Freshwater Aquaculture Center developed aquashading technology, which uses greenhouse nets installed over the pond to provide shade for the cultured tilapia. The shade effect reduces water temperature by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, increasing the fish's chance of reproducing more fish by 100 percent in both pond-based and hapa-based systems. Early adopters of this technology saw a 14 percent return on investment (ROI) and a payback period of less than two years.
NFRDI funded the "Verification of CLSU's Aquashading Technology in Different Agro-climatic Conditions" project to assess the technical performance of aquashade technology, with or without shading, in Type I and Type III agro-climatic conditions.
Doctor Joseph Christopher Rayos, project leader and chief of NFRDI-ARDD, said aquashade technology lowers water temperature to make it more conducive to breeding and increases Tilapia seed production in ponds.
“The reduction of water temperature during the hottest hours of the day can significantly increase the spawning rate and seed production,” he explained,
This technology, according to him, will “definitely benefit our fish farmers through increased production and attain fish sufficiency.”
The Philippines has four climate types, according to the Modified Corona's Classification of Climate: Type I (dry from November to April and wet the rest of the year); Type II (no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to February); Type III (no very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only one to three months); and Type IV (no very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only one to three months) (rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year).
The NFRDI's Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center (FFRDC) in Butong, Taal, Batangas with Type I climate and the NFRDI's Brackishwater Fisheries Research and Development Center (BFRDC) in Lala, Lanao del Norte with Type III climate are the sites for two proposed on-station verification studies. For possible outside funding, the other two proposed sites are in Samar and Pangasinan.
The project preparations kicked off on March 8 at the BFRDC in Lala, Lanao del Norte. The project also aims to increase hatchery production of tilapia fingerlings and validate the technology's cost efficiency.