Heated tanks lead to productive milkfish spawning in cold months

A premier fisheries research center in the country is promoting a simple technology to address the perennial shortage of milkfish fry that continues to hound fish farmers in the Philippines during the colder months of the year. The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), a research center based in Iloilo, revealed that the facility succeeded in inducing milkfish breeders to spawn using thermal manipulation and is sharing this technology with fish farmers. “The shortage of milkfish seeds is more pron1ounced in the Philippines between November to February when the weather becomes too cold for breeders to lay eggs,” said SEAFDEC chief Dan Baliao, who further underscored that “thermal manipulation is necessary to help milkfish hatcheries stay productive during the four-month off-season by ensuring a continuous supply of seed.”