The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing to increase the local production of pompano by helping the private sector.
The DA plans to set up specialized facilities and equipment that assist in locally breeding short-finned pompano variety.
In 2022, local production of pompano reached 457 metric tons and the country imported 16,004 tons for that year.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources visited Santeh Feeds Corp.’s Silaguin Bay Fish Farm in Zambales last week.
The DA said the company’s floating sea cages contain thousands of imported fry of short-finned pompano that are being raised to help reduce fish imports and provide healthier protein source for consumers as well as for possible export.
Laurel said Santeh has been successful and innovative in its aquaculture project that is in sync with the government’s goal to expand mariculture parks and promote various fishery projects around the country.
The government is also ready to extend assistance from production to post-harvest to marketing, to ensure that pompano culture in the country succeeds, Laurel added.
The DA said Silaguin Bay Fish Farm has 44 floating cages that could each yield around 3 to 4 tons of pompano.
At present, it takes around nine months to culture pompano, with fish of up to 500 grams destined to the local market while larger ones, up to 800 grams, earmarked for export, the DA said.
