PHOTO BY LMB GARCIA
abalone reared on agar-based microparticulate diet resulted in bigger shell lengths and higher survival rates compared to abalone fed solely on diatoms. Two-day old larvae of the climbing perch Anabas testudineus obtained from hatchery spawns at AQD’s Binangonan Freshwater Station in May-June 2012
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Sampling of seahorses in Sagay Marine Reserve in Negros Occidental; packing and transport of wild seahorses from Sagay to AQD’s main station in Iloilo for breeding purposes; seahorses from wild males
PHOTOS BY VR ALAVA
2012 Highlights
Meanwhile, the initial live food for the larval Napoleon wrasse Cheilinus undulatus is being assessed. The distribution of Napoleon wrasse in Bohol was also surveyed. This information is vital to the management of Napoleon wrasse in known natural habitats.
EMERGING SPECIES. The reproduction and seed production of climbing perch Anabas testudineus, a species indigenous to Laguna de Bay, is currently being studied. Rearing and feeding protocols for seed production are being improved to increase survival rate.
The seahorses, Hippocampus barbouri and H. comes are continuously being propagated in the SEAFDEC/AQD hatchery for possible release in Taklong Island Marine Reserve, a site which is currently being assessed for its suitability for stock enhancement.
Another endemic species, the silver therapon, Leiopotherapon plumbeus is being studied to determine the optimum larval rearing protocol. Preliminary work involved qualitative and quantitative assessment of plankton communities in the larval rearing water as well as larval gut analysis to determine the diet preference of silver therapon larvae.
Developing schemes for the production, management, maintenance and dissemination of genetically selected and improved stocks
Concerning the pompano Trachinotus blochii, hatchery techniques are being refined to improve seed production. One of the refinements being done is on the development and evaluation of weaning diets. Likewise, a verification study on the brackishwater nursery pond culture of pompano using formulated diets with varying lipid levels is being conducted.
The polychaete Marphysa sp metatrocophore [INSET] and 12-segment juvenile. With high protein and lipid contents, this polychaete is a potential feed for crustacean broodstock. Its life cycle is being studied for captive breeding
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Finally, a study that deals with the production of Gracilariopsis heteroclada, the primary diet of abalone, was implemented. Using broadcast method, a 100 m2 area initially stocked with 50 kg G. heteroclada seeds produced 375 kg seaweeds after 30 days of culture. On the other hand, the fixed bottom line method yielded 130 kg of seaweeds.
from new sources like Igang in Guimaras Island and Ajuy in northern Iloilo to compare quality of spawned eggs and larvae from broodstock taken from different habitats. These were held in sea pens.
Research on the biology and reproduction of the spotted scat Scatophagus argus or kikero is being undertaken as well. To improve sandfish juvenile survival, broodstock were collected
CRUSTACEANS. Selective breeding programs have begun for selected commercial species like the crustaceans. For mudcrab, stress tests are being done to determine strain level differences in terms of better fitness attributes of stocks. For tiger shrimp, F1 batches from founder stocks collected from several sites (Bohol, Davao and Antique) are currently being grown to broodstock size. Subsequent batches which have attained more than 50 g will be considered for use in the breeding program. For the giant freshwater prawn, the approach for genetic improvement is to assess and determine the effective broodstock management scheme to enhance growth and/or reproductive performance. In 2011, a reciprocal mating scheme was tried to improve