SUPPLY ANALYSIS OF AYUNGIN

The Philippines has about 361 freshwater fish species found in inland water bodies, with 181

considered as native aquatic species (Froese & Pauly, 2019). Also, the country has more than 80 lakes

(Palma, 2016) and the largest of which is the Laguna de Bay (Figure 1) located in Luzon Island. With a

total area of 90,000 ha, Laguna de Bay is also the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia having

an average depth of about 2.8 m, and elevation of about 1.0 m above sea level.

Indigenous fish species play an important role in ensuring food security especially among households in

rural areas.

Ayungin

plumbeus (Figure 2), is a freshwater endemic fish found specifically in Laguna Lake, Philippines.

Ayungin is a popular traditional fish to eat among the locals because of its tasty flesh. It is characterized

as a small silver-colored fish, roughly 14 centimeters when it reaches maturity.

The silver therapon has been a continuous decline in the volume of production in recent years.

This could have been brought about by the rampant and non-responsible fishing activities, contributing

to the overexploitation of indigenous fish species, considering that rural communities near the lakes are

dependent on subsistence capture fisheries for household lakes are dependent on subsistence capture

fisheries for household consumption or scientifically known as Leiopotherapon consumption. (Figure 3)

Another threat to the production of silver therapon is the introduction of invasive alien species such as

the predatory fish Chitala ornata or knife fish (Figure 4). Naturally distributed in Cambodia, Lao PDR,

Thailand, and Viet Nam, this ornamental fish is believed to be accidentally introduced in Laguna de Bay

during the Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 (Guerrero III, 2014). Particular attention is paid on the containment

of this invasive species for they heavily feed on small native fish species in lakes and other freshwater

bodies.
 Recently, a report on the feeding ecology of knife fish in Laguna de Bay found silver therapon as

the most important component of its diet (Corpuz, 2018), resulting in the significant decline of wild

silver therapon population in the lake. Consequently, it was also reported that the livelihood of many

fisherfolk around Laguna de Bay was severely affected because about 40 percent of their daily catch was

composed of knife fish(BFAR and PCAARRD, 2012). This problem caused the fishermen to earn less

income as compared before.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority ayungin catch in the Province of Rizal has

declined from 582.49 metric tons in 2016 to only 318.50 metric tons in 2018.

However, despite declines in populations and commercial catches within Laguna de Bay in recent years,

the demand for ayungin remains strong and, thus, still commands a relatively high price which is about

2– 5 times more expensive than the selling prices of tilapia and milkfish (Tacio, 2013). Demand is high

because locals find its flesh tasty and delicious.

To save ayungin from extinction, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department's Binangonan

Freshwater Station, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Diliman, has developed

hatchery rearing techniques for domesticating this Philippine native fish species.

The hatchery technology, just like other technologies developed by the Aquaculture Department

(AQD) of SEAFDEC, will be available for free to fish farmers interested to venture into silver therapon

culture.

The hatchery protocol supports the Philippine government’s program to rejuvenate the

freshwater fish population.

Resources:

Aya, F.A. & Garcia L.M.B. (2016). Growth response of cultured larvae of silver therapon

Leiopotherapon plumbeus (Kner, 1864) in outdoor tanks in relation to fertilizer type and fish density.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology 32:1186-1193

 Aya, F.A., Corpuz, M.N., Laron, M.A., & Garcia, L.M.B. (2017). Larval and early juvenile

development of silver therapon Leiopotherapon plumbeus (Perciformes: Terapontidae) reared in

mesocosms. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 47:347-35

Tacio, H. (2013, January 27). Saving ayungin from extinction. SunStar Philippines.

https://www.sunstar.com. ph/ article/267014/Business/Saving-ayungin-from-extinction

De Guzman, M. (2019, December 17). New hatchery technique could save tasty Philippines freshwater

favourite. Hatchery International.https://www.hatcheryinternational.com/new -hatchery-technique-

could-save-tasty-filipino-freshwater-favourite/

Philippine Council for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

(2017). Technical bulletin on biology of knife fish released. Retrieved from

http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/ quick-information-dispatch/3042-technical-

bulletin-on biology-of-knifefish-released

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2018). Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines 2016 – 2018. Vol.27.

Retrived from: http://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Fisheries%20Statistics%20the%20Philippines

%2C&2020 16-2018.pdf