National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)
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- Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: implications for aquaculture and fishery managementLal, Monal M.; Macahig, Deo A. S.; Juinio-Meñez, Marie A.; Altamirano, Jon P.; Noran-Baylon, Roselyn; de la Torre-de la Cruz, Margarita; Villamor, Janine L.; Gacura, Jonh Rey L.; Uy, Wilfredo H.; Mira-Honghong, Hanzel; Southgate, Paul C.; Ravago-Gotanco, Rachel (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-06-04)The sandfish Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra, is a high-value tropical sea cucumber harvested from wild stocks for over four centuries in multi-species fisheries across its Indo-Pacific distribution, for the global bêche-de-mer (BDM) trade. Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an important centre of the BDM trade, however overharvesting and largely open fishery management have resulted in declining catch volumes. Sandfish mariculture has been developed to supplement BDM supply and assist restocking efforts; however, it is heavily reliant on wild populations for broodstock supply. Consequently, to inform fishery, mariculture, germplasm and translocation management policies for both wild and captive resources, a high-resolution genomic audit of 16 wild sandfish populations was conducted, employing a proven genotyping-by-sequencing approach for this species (DArTseq). Genomic data (8,266 selectively-neutral and 117 putatively-adaptive SNPs) were used to assess fine-scale genetic structure, diversity, relatedness, population connectivity and local adaptation at both broad (biogeographic region) and local (within-biogeographic region) scales. An independent hydrodynamic particle dispersal model was also used to assess population connectivity. The overall pattern of population differentiation at the country level for H. scabra in the Philippines is complex, with nine genetic stocks and respective management units delineated across 5 biogeographic regions: (1) Celebes Sea, (2) North and (3) South Philippine Seas, (4) South China and Internal Seas and (5) Sulu Sea. Genetic connectivity is highest within proximate marine biogeographic regions (mean Fst=0.016), with greater separation evident between geographically distant sites (Fst range=0.041–0.045). Signatures of local adaptation were detected among six biogeographic regions, with genetic bottlenecks at 5 sites, particularly within historically heavily-exploited locations in the western and central Philippines. Genetic structure is influenced by geographic distance, larval dispersal capacity, species-specific larval development and settlement attributes, variable ocean current-mediated gene flow, source and sink location geography and habitat heterogeneity across the archipelago. Data reported here will inform accurate and sustainable fishery regulation, conservation of genetic diversity, direct broodstock sourcing for mariculture and guide restocking interventions across the Philippines.
- BFAR staff gain practical skills in milkfish aquaculture at SEAFDEC(Panay News, Inc., 2025-04-15)Another batch of personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) trained at SEAFDEC/AQD on milkfish aquaculture from March 17 to 28, 2025 as part of the Philippines’ push to boost local production. The 12-day program gathered 14 personnel from various BFAR offices and facilities, including the Central Office and regional offices from Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao), 12 (Soccsksargen), and 13 (Caraga). At the opening program, BFAR-3 Director Wilfredo Cruz emphasized the importance of a skilled workforce to support the National Bangus Development Program (NBDP) of the Philippines. “With this training, I hope we can reach our target and make the country self-sufficient in fry production,” he told the trainees.
- Agri Dept. cites Zambales firm's efforts in pompano production(Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2024-01-23)In San Antonio, Zambales, a private firm is helping blaze the trail to increase local production of pompano, a delicious, high-value aquaculture alternative to milkfish. Government data showed that in 2022, local production of pompano (scientific name trichinous blochii), only reached 457 metric tons—less than 3 percent of total imports of 16,004 tons during the same year. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., along with officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), visited Santeh Feeds Corp.’s Silaguin Bay Fish Farm.
- SEAFDEC concludes 4-day meeting on sustainable fishing(Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2024-05-11)The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) concluded the four-day 56th Council meeting on May 9, 2024, with a focus on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and ensuring the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in Southeast Asia. Held in Tagaytay City through the invitation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the council acknowledged the ongoing efforts to combat IUU fishing and the progress made by SEAFDEC initiatives like the Regional Fishing Vessels Record (RFVR) Database, electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme (eACDS), and improved national capacities in port State measures (PSM).
- BFAR, Itbayat Island open first tilapia hatchery(Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2024-04-11)Batanes fish farmers will soon have their own local source of tilapia fingerlings as the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the local government inaugurated on April 4, 2024 the province’s first municipal tilapia hatchery in Barangay Raele in the island municipality of Itbayat. The facility, equipped with breeding, nursery, treatment and conditioning ponds and a water system vital for hatchery operation, is expected to produce 300,000 to 500,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings annually.