Bright Prospects For Prawn Farming In The Philippines

It’s little known that locally farmed prawn could be a vital foreign exchange earner for the country.

- Julio P. Yap, Jr.

The local industry has been experiencing a setback due to the prevalence of certain viral diseases affecting the vannamei variety. This is the variety of prawn of the eastern Pacific Ocean that is commonly caught or farmed for food. But despite the problems confronting the sector, production of vannamei in the Philippines is said to be increasing.

AN OPPORTUNITY

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has said that there was an increase in the commercial culture of the said species in several areas, adding that Asia has seen a phenomenal increase in the production of vannamei. However, due to fears about the importation of exotic diseases, many Asian countries have been reluctant to promote the farming of vannamei, and its culture remains officially confined only to experimental testing in Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, according to the FAO.

It was learned that several countries freely permit its commercial culture but have official restrictions, so that only quality and safe broodstock may be imported. Similarly, some countries have strict quarantine laws or bans to prevent the importation of exotic pathogens with new stocks.

Nonetheless, citing the welcome development, several industry players in the country are now applying particular methods to reduce or prevent the occurrence of diseases, and to improve yields through sound management practices. Considering that prawn is an important aquaculture commodity, the prawn farm of Ricky Sun in Manapla, Negros Occidental has already adopted sound management practices and developed their own technologies to help boost the local industry.