SUPPLY ANALYSIS OF AYUNGIN

Ayungin or silver perch (Leiopotherapon plumbeus) is known as one of the

country's most expensive freshwater fish, many Filipinos love it because it is tasty and it

is commonly grilled or used in a tart soup with tamarind or guava. It’s demand is high

despite population and commercial catch decreases in Laguna de Bay, which causes its

price to be higher (Prices range from P90 to P250 per kilo of entire fish, whether fresh

or dried, and depending on the season). In our country, it is listed as a near-threatened

species that can be found in Laguna de Bay and some in Taal Lake in Batangas and

Sampaloc Lake in Laguna.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country's ayungin production

has decreased from 4,765 tons in 2002 to 1182.30 tons in 2020. In Rizal, it also

decreased from 1901 tons in 2002 to 292.63 tons in 2020. Despite the diminishing

availability of ayungi, several researchers have discovered a means to boost the supply

by using various strategies to produce them. However, the country's research efforts on

ayungin cultural production are limited. But there are some who still pursued their

research and some of those are the “Development of Seed Production and Grow-Out

Culture Techniques for Ayungin” and the “Hatchery Technique” that will be discussed

below.

The University of the Philippines Los Baos–Limnological Research Station

(UPLB- LRS), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources–National Inland Fisheries

Technology Center (BFAR-NIFTC), and the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) are

working together on a research and development project called “Development of Seed

Production and Grow-Out Culture Techniques for Ayungin.” The goal of the project is to
develop spawning and larval rearing procedures for effective mass propagation,

develop appropriate grow-out cultivation methods, and generate knowledge on growth

possibilities in Laguna de Bay waters under fixed cage environments, as well as create

improved grow-out culture techniques for the species in closed pond settings.

On October 17, 2019, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines granted

Aya and his co-authors, Vicar Stella N. Nillasca, Mark Nell C. Corpuz, and Luis Maria B.

Garcia, a patent for their hatchery technique. Their research demonstrates that silver

therapon larvae may be successfully reared in concrete containers on the ground.

The silver therapon larvae were raised in tanks that were 4m x 1m x 1m in size.

A recirculating aquaculture system was not used by the researchers. To preserve

appropriate levels of water quality, water loss due to evaporation was replenished every

week, and the tanks were oxygenated on a regular basis. The researchers recorded

embryo development, yolk resorption rate, the beginning of feed, and the species'

physical features. Early-stage silver therapon raised in tanks were also studied for food

composition, feeding preference, and mouth shape.

The silver therapon possesses properties that make it appropriate for

aquaculture, according to the researchers. In captivity, the species, for example,

exhibited indications of being ready to spawn. Even at a total length of 50 to 80mm, the

silver therapon reaches sexual maturity. In addition, the fish has the ability to breed

year-round in aquariums.

Artificial breeding of silver therapon, according to Aya, necessitates the use of

commonly available human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone and ovaprim to

promote brood fish fertilization (a ratio of one female to two males is used). SGnRHa, or
salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone, can also be utilized as a reproductive agent.

At a temperature of 27 to 28 degrees Celsius, the hormone-treated brood fish are

moved to spawning tanks. A scoop net is used to gather spawned eggs (0.43 to

0.61mm in diameter). In a moderately aerated plastic basin, the eggs are allowed to

hatch.

In conclusion, because the supply of ayungin (silver perch) has decreased

dramatically in recent years, many researchers developed a strategy for preserving it. It

is believed that by using these techniques, a sufficient quantity of healthy seeds of this

native fish species may be produced, ensuring food security and providing a sustainable

livelihood for small-scale fishermen.

References:

https://www.hatcheryinternational.com/silver-lining-for-overfished-philippines-

freshwater-favourite/

https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/PXWeb/pxweb/en/DB/DB__2E__FS/0052E4GVIP0.px/chart

/chartViewColumn/?rxid=2a867bdf-e16f-4ee9-9d54-e235b6c3d463

https://www.philstar.com/business/agriculture/2017/07/15/1723995/reviving-ayungin-

culture-laguna

https://thefishsite.com/articles/hatchery-breakthrough-could-save-filipino-favourite