Saint Louis College

City of San Fernando, La Union

COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, SECRETARIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY

FISHING AND AQUACULTURE

II. Objectives

At the end of this lecture, students should be able to:

a. define fisheries and aquaculture;

b. understand the Philippine Fisheries Code of the Philippines;
c. differentiate the types of water environment used in aquaculture,
the different types of aquaculture, and the kinds of fishes
produced in aquaculture;
d. understand the benefits of fishing and aquaculture; and
e. understand the environmental impact of fisheries and
aquaculture

III. Presentation of the Topic

For centuries, it has been assumed that our oceans are limitless and
unaffected by human activities, containing a lot of things that are yet to be
discovered. These bodies of water, which occupies the majority of the area of
our planet, provides the planet with a lot of natural resources. These bodies of
water give us, humans, and other organisms with food, habitat, and source of
income. But with the continuing climate change and the constant human
exploitation of these bodies of water, the fishing industry is being threatened.
According to David (n.d), in fifty years' time, there will be more plastic than fish
in the ocean, jellyfish will take over the waters, and the oceans will become
more acidic. This will result in a decrease in the supply of fish and a loss of
income, employment, and food security. As a result, the world may actually
experience a short-term loss of valuable resources if the mystery is left
unsolved.
The difference between fisheries and aquaculture is capture and culture.
While fisheries focus on capturing only and harvesting without sowing/rearing,
aquaculture is about culturing – the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish,
algae, crustaceans, and shellfish in different water environments.
Fish or shellfish are the focus of fisheries. The majority of their activities
involve catching, processing, and selling fish. Aquaculture, on the other hand,
is related to the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals. The natural or
controlled cultivation of shellfish, fish, and seaweed in freshwater and marine
environments is known as aquaculture, and it is also referred to as "fish
farming."

FISHERIES
Definition of Fisheries
Fisheries refer to any and all activities associated with the act or business
of fishing, cultivating, preserving, processing, marketing, developing,
conserving, and managing aquatic resources and fishery areas, including the
privilege of fishing or taking aquatic resources from them.

Types of Fisheries

1. Commercial Fishing
The term "commercial fishing" means the catching, taking, or
harvesting of fish from the marine environment that result in the scale or
barter of all or part of the fish harvested. It also refers to the use of
passive or active gear to capture fish species for purposes other than
 sport or subsistence fishing. The following categories are used to classify
commercial fishing: Small Scale: fishing with either passive or active
gear on vessels weighing between 3.1 and 20 GT; Medium Scale: fishing
with active gears on vessels weighing between 20.1 GT and 150 GT;
Large Scale: fishing with vessels weighing more than 150 GT and active
gears.
2. Municipal Fishing
Fishing that takes place within municipal waters using vessels of
no more than three (3) gross tons is referred to as "municipal fishing."
Municipal waters include inland bodies of water like lakes, streams, and
tidal waters within the municipality.
3. Aquaculture
Aquaculture includes all forms of raising and culturing fish and
other fishery species in fresh, brackish, and marine water areas.The
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) states
that it accounts for approximately 18% of the nation's fish supply.

THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE

Introduction
The Philippines is an archipelago that consists of 7,641 islands with a total
land area of 301,000 km2. The total area of marine waters including Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) is 2,200,000 km2 and the total length of its coastlines is
36,289 km. The country’s shelf and coral reef areas cover 18.46 million ha and
2.7 million ha, respectively (BFAR, 2011).
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), fisheries account
for approximately 12.54% of the country's Gross Value Added (GVA), or P223.2
billion, in the agriculture sector (based on prices from 2018), or 1.52 percent of
the nation's GDP in 2020. This revenue comes from the production of
approximately 1,016.46 thousand metric tons of fish in various fishing areas.

Republic Act No. 8550, also known as the Philippine Fisheries Code
of 1998, “makes provision for the management and conservation of fisheries
and aquaculture in the Philippines and the reconstitution or establishment of
fisheries institutions both at the national and local level”. On 27 th of February,
2015, RA 8550 was amended by Republic Act 10654 which “aims to deter and
eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing” (IUU).
● Illegal fishing - fishing without a license, authorization, or permission in
a foreign country.
● Unreported fishing - defined as fishing activities that are not reported to
authorities or that are reported incorrectly.
● Unregulated fishing - conducted by vessels without nationality, hence
the Code does not apply to or govern these activities.

Declaration of Policy ( Ch. 1. Sec. 2 of RA No. 8550)

Policy of the State:
a. to achieve food security as the overriding consideration in the
utilization, management, development, conservation and protection of
fishery resources in order to provide the food needs of the population;
b. to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for
the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens;
c. to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and
conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters;
d. to protect the rights of fisherfolk, especially of the local communities
with priority to municipal fisherfolk, in the preferential use of the
municipal waters;
 e. to provide support to the fishery sector, primarily to the municipal
fisherfolk, including women and youth sectors, through appropriate
technology and research, adequate financial, production, construction
of post-harvest facilities, marketing assistance, and other services;
f. to manage fishery and aquatic resources, in a manner consistent with
the concept of an integrated coastal area management in specific
natural fishery management areas, appropriately supported by
research, technical services and guidance provided by the State; and
g. to grant the private sector the privilege to utilize fishery resources
under the basic concept that the grantee, licensee or permittee thereof
shall not only be a privileged beneficiary of the State but also active
participant and partner of the Government in the sustainable
development, management, conservation and protection of the fishery
and aquatic resources of the country.

Objectives of the Fishery sector

1. Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country’s
fishery and aquatic resources;
2. Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among
municipal fisherfolk;
3. Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits;
4. Optimal utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and
5. Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

B. AQUACULTURE
The difference between fisheries and aquaculture is capture and culture.
While fisheries focus on capturing only and harvesting without sowing/rearing,
aquaculture is about culturing – the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish,
algae, crustaceans, and shellfish in different water environments.
Aquaculture is the aquatic counterpart of agriculture; it is the practice of
farming seafood. It is an activity that has already been practiced for thousands
of years and has increased in recent decades, producing as much as 50% of all
seafood produced for human consumption. It is the world’s fastest-growing
food-producing sector, which plays a significant part in helping to feed the
planet with an ever-growing population.
Overfishing of our oceans and other bodies of water continues to
increase yearly; humans need alternate seafood sources to feed the planet’s
ever-growing population. “Unfortunately, the days of the ocean’s natural
productivity providing the planet is over. Wild fish have been exploited for
generations. Some estimate that the annual catch of edible marine protein has
already passed its peak. The oceans cannot naturally provide the demand for
seafood” (Positive Aquaculture Awareness). Aquaculture is the solution to fill
that problem in the seafood supply. Farming fish responsibly and sustainably
is the solution to provide healthy and environmentally friendly protein options
for future generations.

Types of Aquaculture Environment

1. Freshwater aquaculture – is carried out either in fish ponds, fish pens,
fish cages or, on a limited scale, in rice paddies
2. Brackishwater aquaculture – is done mainly in fish ponds located in
coastal areas. It is also the second largest culture environment.
3. Marine culture – employs either fish cages or substrates for mollusks
and seaweeds such as stakes, ropes, and rafts.Open coastal water is the
largest culture environment, mainly as a result of the seaweed industry.

Types of Aquaculture
 A. Mariculture or Marine Aquaculture
Mariculture is aquaculture that uses seawater. It can be carried out either
close to an ocean, in an isolated area of the ocean, or in ponds that are not
directly connected to the ocean but nevertheless contain seawater. Mollusks,
seafood options including prawns and other shellfish, seaweed, and other
organisms are all bred here.
Mariculture also includes the cultivation of plants like seaweed. These
marine plants and animals have a wide range of applications in the
manufacturing sector, including jewelry and cosmetics, where facial treatments
are made with collagen from seaweed. Pearls are extracted from mollusks and
used to create fashion accessories.
Mariculture Parks is a type of fishing launched in the country in 2004.
Investors set up fish cages in it like industrial parks to breed high-value marine
species like bangus, siganids, and seaweeds. Currently, there are 40
mariculture parks in the nation. According to BFAR, the Visayas have the
highest number of mariculture park with 16 mariculture parks, followed by
Mindanao with 13, and Luzon with 11.
 (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
pGGwAiOPVAI/UFLDlk0d2vI/AAAAAAAAKpU/6SyPeNuoAGM/s640/Samal+
Mariculture+Park.jpg)

B. Fish Farming
The most common form of aquaculture is fish farming. In order to
produce a food source that can be consumed, it involves the selective breeding
of fish in either freshwater or seawater. Because it allows for the production of
a low-cost protein source, fish farming is highly profitable.

Types of Fish Farming:

● The first type is the cage system or off-shore cultivation, in which
fish are kept in cages in lakes, ponds, and oceans. Fish are
"artificially fed" and harvested from cage-like structures. Over the
course of its history, the fish farming in cages method has seen a
number of technological advancements, particularly in terms of
reducing the incidence of diseases and environmental issues.
However, the most pressing issue with the cage method is fish
escaping and becoming dispersed among the population of wild
fish.
 (https://images1.farms.com/farms-production-
images/Portals/0/Cage%20System%20of%20Fish%20Farming_1.jpg)
● Irrigation ditch or pond systems are the second type of fish
farming. The presence of a pond or ditch that can hold water is a
fundamental requirement for this method. This system is one of a
kind because, at a small scale, fish are fed artificially, and the
waste they produce is used to fertilize farmers' fields. The pond is
self-sustaining on a larger scale, mostly in ponds, because it
grows plants and algae for fish food.
● The third type of fish farming is called composite fish culture. It
allows both domestic and imported fish species to live together in
a single pond. The number of species varies, but a single pond
may contain up to six different species. Each fish species is
carefully selected to ensure that they can coexist and reduce food
competition.
● The fourth type of fish farming, known as integrated recycling
systems, is considered to be the most extensive form of "pure" fish
farming. Large plastic tanks inside a greenhouse are used in this
method. In close proximity to the plastic tanks are hydroponic
beds. The fish feed waste is disposed of in the hydroponic beds,
where it serves as a source of nutrients for the plant crops that are
grown in the hydroponic beds. The water in the plastic tanks is
circulated to the beds.
 (https://images1.farms.com/farms-production-
images/Portals/0/Integrated%20Recycling%20Systems_1.jpg)
● The last type of fish farming is known as "flow through system,"
and it is also referred to as "classic fry farming." When sport fish
species hatch from their eggs, they are released into streams.

C. Algaculture
Algaculture is a type of aquaculture in which algae are grown. Algae are
microbial organisms that share characteristics with plants and animals. They
have chloroplasts, which give them their green color and enable them to
photosynthesize in the same way that green plants do. They are sometimes
operating like other microbes. Microalgae (also known as phytoplankton,
microphytes, or planktonic algae) make up the majority of the algae that are
grown on purpose. Seaweed or macroalgae, has numerous commercial and
industrial applications.
(https://www.iucn.org/sites/default/files/content/images/2020/shutterstock_
1574853130-web.jpg)
D. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
IMTA is a cutting-edge method of aquaculture in which various trophic
levels are incorporated to meet individual nutritional requirements. Especially
because it tries to mimic the ecological system of the natural habitat, it is an
effective system. By using the waste of larger organisms as food sources for
smaller ones, the IMTA makes use of these intertropical transfer of resources to
maximize resource utilization. The practice ensures that the nutrients are
recycled, reducing waste and increasing product production.
 Conceptual diagram of the Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)
system.
(https://www.scielo.cl/img/revistas/lajar/v47n2//0718-560X-lajar-47-02-0212-
gf01.jpg)

E. Inland Pond Culture

Typically, this entails artificial ponds inland that are between 6 and 8 feet
deep and cover about 20 acres. In order to introduce air into ponds, aeration
systems are frequently connected to them. Both the oxygen supply and the
amount of ice that forms in the winter are reduced as a result of this.
Two main types of pond system:
● Watershed Pond Systems – watershed pond systems are
frequently utilized depending on the availability of water and the
lower costs associated with not having to pump water. Watershed
pond systems will work best in locations with enough rainfall to
keep ponds full.
● Levee Pond Systems – when there is insufficient water from the
watershed to fill the pond and groundwater serves as the primary
source of water, levee ponds are typically suitable for such areas.

F. Recirculating Systems
This involves a closed set of chambers, one of which houses fish and the
other houses water treatment. Because water must be continuously pumped
through the fish chambers, it is highly dependent on the power supply.
Particulate matter is removed from the water as it moves through the treatment
chamber and air is introduced. The salinity, temperature, oxygen, and anything
else that could harm the fish is controlled by this closed system. Because very
little new water is used to replace the water that evaporated, the system is good
for the environment. In a responsible manner, the filters' residue is also
disposed of.

G. Open-net pen and Cage Systems

Open-net pen and Cage systems are often found offshore and in
freshwater lakes. The fish are housed inside mesh pens which range in size
from 6 to 60 cubic feet. Waste, chemicals, parasites, and diseases frequently
exchange hands in the immediate water environments when there are a lot of
fish in the pens. Additionally, the fish entangle larger fish—predators—
oftentimes in the nets. Public water is used in this system; Consequently,
environmental regulations and authorization procedures must be adhered to.

H. Flow-through/Raceway
This is a fish-filled system made up of long units. Feeding stations are
attached to the units. The raceway units that are moving downstream receive
water that is diverted from the flowing water. Waste is gathered and disposed
of down the unit's end. When raising trout, raceways are frequently used.

(https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ARANA-Pic-0-
960x540.jpg)

Seven Major Aquaculture Species in the Philippines

The seven major aquaculture species in the Philippines are:
● Seaweed (mainly Kappaphycus and Eucheuma spp.)
● Milkfish (Chanos chanos ).
● Tilapia (mainly Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus ).
● Shrimp (mainly giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon ).
● Carp (mainly bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis ).
● Oyster (slipper cupped oyster Crassostrea iredalei ).
● Mussel (green mussel Perna viridis ).

Importance of Aquaculture
As the need for seafood has risen, technology has made it possible to
grow food in nearshore and open ocean waters. Aquaculture is a technique
used to produce food, restore habitat, replenish supplies of marine organisms,
and rebuild populations of threatened and endangered species.
(https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Aquaculture-
101_March-01-1-1024x791.png)

At an estimated population count of 10 billion by 2050, the demand for

seafood and animal protein will increase by 52%. To sustainably feed the
world's fast-growing population with healthy and affordable protein,
aquaculture's role is vital. Aquaculture's primary responsibility is to efficiently
complement the wild-caught fish to grow the amount of seafood available
worldwide without compromising the marine ecosystem.
As long as it is carried out in an ecologically friendly, socially
responsible manner and takes into account food safety and animal welfare,
aquaculture can improve both the health of our planet and the health of our
population. In addition to being essential, aquaculture offers customers a
sustainable alternative, particularly when compared to other farmed proteins.
Compared to chicken, pork, and beef, seafood has the best protein retention,
making it a resource-efficient meal choice. Among the identical types of
protein, it likewise has the lowest feed conversion ratio. Compared to other
farming methods, aquaculture produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

(https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/03/AnimalProteinStats-1024x430.png)
 On a worldwide scale, aquaculture has improved access to food and
provided income for many, particularly those directly involved in aquaculture.
Regardless of the size of the operation, aquaculture activities benefited poor
households. The improvement in living standards could result from the rising
fish farmers' incomes. Some indirect effects of engaging in aquaculture on
income generation include employment creation and economic multipliers,
whereby the profits from fish farming or working on fish farms are re-spent on
locally produced goods or services, thereby contributing to growth in the rural
non-farm economy and the economy as a whole. “The contribution of
aquaculture to national GDP on the global level is on the average 1.2%, with a
range of 0.6 -5.9 %. These values were found to vary depending on the degree
of aquaculture development in the 11 partner countries, from negligible in
countries where the aquaculture industry is still emerging, to about 5 % in
countries where the aquaculture industry is very dynamic. For the Philippines,
this is about 3.5% of the national GDP and 28.7% to agriculture GDP.” (Dr. Felix
Ayson).

Benefits of Aquaculture
Economic Benefit
1. Alternative Food Source
Fish and other seafoods are a great source of protein. In addition, they
have a higher nutritional value than natural oils, including omega-3 fatty acids.
Additionally, it is better for the blood to lower cholesterol levels than beef's red
meat because it contains white meat. Because they can convert more feed into
protein, fish is also easier to keep than other meat-producing animals. As a
result, raising fish costs less because they use food more effectively and
convert a pound of food to a pound of protein.
2. Alternative Fuel Source
 Algae are gradually being developed into alternative fuel sources to
produce fuels that can take the place of current fossil fuels. If harvested, algae
produce lipids that can be burned as an alternative fuel source, producing only
water as byproducts. A breakthrough of this kind could lessen the world's
reliance on drilled fossil fuels and lower the cost of energy by growing it rather
than drilling for petroleum. Furthermore, algae fuel has the potential to
revolutionize the energy sector and establish a more stable economy by
replacing oil's boom-and-bust nature with a more abundant fuel source that is
both cleaner and farmable.
3. Increase Jobs in the Market
The market sees an increase in the number of possible jobs thanks to
aquaculture. As a result of the need for labor to maintain the pools and harvest
the grown organisms, it creates employment opportunities as well as new
products for the market. The majority of the increase in jobs is realized in third-
world nations because aquaculture provides both a food source and an
additional source of income to supplement those who live in these regions.

Environmental Benefits
1. Reduces Fishing Pressure on Wild Stock
Aquaculture provides alternative food sources instead of fishing for the
same species in their natural environments. Overfishing and unchecked
exploitation are threatening to deplete the wild stock populations of some
marine species. Additionally, thanks to aquaculture, there is a reduction in the
use of unsustainable fishing methods like bottom trawlers. By allowing farmers
to breed the same species in captivity and allowing the wild populations to
recover, aquaculture offers an alternative. In addition, aquaculture gives them
the ability to control the supply of fish on the market, allowing them to produce
more of it or less of it to maximize profits.
2. Creates a Barrier Against Pollution
 Mollusks are filter feeders, and seaweed behaves similarly to seagrass.
Both of these organisms purify the water by sifting the water brought in by the
current. The rest of the sea is shielded from land-based pollution, particularly
from activities that disturb the sea bed and raise dust, by this buffer zone.
Additionally, the importance of mollusks and seaweed to the economy may
increase government pressure to protect their habitats.The realized financial
benefits motivate the government to safeguard the seas in order to safeguard
seafood revenue.
3. Low Environmental Impact
According to research carried out by the United States' National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aquaculture does not pose a
significant threat to the environment. Most of the impact is local and only
temporary. Aquaculture can help the environment in some cases. Water quality
in ponds and lakes can improve when filter-feeding shellfish like oysters are
cultured on site. In addition to supplementing wild harvests, fish and shellfish
can be farmed in environmentally friendly ways to meet the growing demand
for seafood. The bio-security systems, cameras, and surveillance infrastructure,
as well as trained inspectors, ensure that farms adhere to environmentally safe
practices, especially for offshore systems. As a result, diseases can be spread
less easily through the water.
4. Water Usage
Rainwater, surface water, and harvested runoff are frequently utilized by
aquaculture systems. As a result, less water is needed from outside sources
like. Additionally, ponds conserve natural resources by maintaining soil
moisture in their immediate vicinity.

IV. Activity of Short Assessment

V. References
Finegold, C. (2009). The importance of fisheries and aquaculture to
development. p. 353-364. In: Wramner, P. ; Cullberg, M. ; Ackefors, H.
(eds.) Fisheries, sustainability and development. The Royal Swedish
Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, Stockholm

Macusi, E.R.D. (2022, March 16). Shrimp Farming in the Philippines.

In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20613

What is a fishery. Australia & New Zealand - English. (n.d.). Retrieved October
9, 2022, from https://www.msc.org/en-au/what-we-are-doing/our-
collective-impact/what-is-a-fishery

Victorian Fisheries Authority. (2021, June 1). Production systems. VFA.

Retrieved October 9, 2022, from
https://vfa.vic.gov.au/aquaculture/production-systems

Written By Sagarika Swamy Last Modified 19-07-2022. (2022, July 19). Fisheries
- definition, types & importance. Embibe Exams. Retrieved October 9,
2022, from https://www.embibe.com/exams/fisheries/#What-are-
Fisheries

Fisheries and aquaculture. OECD. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from

https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/fisheries-and-aquaculture/

Jacob Hill. EnvironmentalScience.org. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from

https://www.environmentalscience.org/environmental-consequences-
fishing-practices
Fao.org. FAO.org : (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from
https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-
FAOC016098/#:~:text=Philippines-,Philippine%20Fisheries

VI. Members of the Group

1. DEL ROSARIO, Judy Mae
2. GACETA, Dannielle Catherine
3. LAGUESMA, Nicole Khirk
4. MAGPALI, Gersom Godwin
5. PALITAYAN, Eryll Kate
6. ULAT, Marion