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Fish for the Millions – Milkfish Aquaculture, Sarangani, Philippines

Fish for the Millions – Milkfish Aquaculture, Sarangani, Philippines

29 April – 2 May 2010

We made a most interesting and educational trip to Sarangani Bay in Southern Mindanao to photograph aquaculture or aquafarming.  Alsons Aquaculture Corporation is the producer of Sarangani Bay Prime Bangus or milkfish, which in the Philippines is food for the millions!

A full cycle aquaculture facility, Alsons operates from having milkfish spawners capable of supplying the market with 1.2 billion bangus fry annually, roughly 50% of the national requirement to finished local & export products of prime, vacuum packed boneless bangus! In a country that has a growing population of 92 million people, that is a big deal.

To explain further the significance of this, bangus is a REALLY boney fish which Filipinos LOVE. It is the Philippine National Fish. It is inexpensive because it is abundant. It is a sturdy fish which thrives and adapts even in fishponds.

We followed the whole bangus aquacuture process and through it, we realized what a crucial role this company holds – as the issue of food security and marine degradation stares us straight in the face.

From 12,000 spawners of various ages, eggs are spawned and hatched every day. This constantly aerated pond will have eggs floating on the surface for the technical farmers to harvest and relocated to the hatchery and fed prime algae and rotifers

From 12,000 spawners of various ages, eggs are spawned and hatched every day. This constantly aerated pond will have eggs floating on the surface for the technical farmers to harvest and relocated to the hatchery. They are fed prime algae and rotifers

From 12,000 spawners of various ages, eggs are spawned and hatched every day. The clear eggs are healthy and they like warm temperatures. hatching at night from 8 to 10pm

The clear eggs are healthy and they like warm temperatures, hatching at night from 8 to 10pm. We literally saw them hatch into these wiggly fish shaped larvae which is still surrounded by its egg sac to feed it until it can feed on introduced algae & rotifers

Jingjing, the marine biologist of Finfish Hatchery proudly showed us a glass of algae soup. She said "this is really healthy algae. We only feed our babies the best algae!"

Jingjing, the marine biologist of Finfish Hatchery proudly showed us a glass of algae soup. She said “this is really healthy algae. We only feed our babies the best algae!”

Rearing period to the fry stage is 21-25 days. Nutritious natural and formulated feeds are used to assure fry health.

Rearing period to the fry stage is 21-25 days. Nutritious natural and formulated feeds are used to assure fry health.

Alsons uses 30 million fry to grow out and the rest are shipped to many bangus farms all over the Philippines. Again, Alsons supply 50% of the national bangus fry requirement

Alsons uses 30 million fry to grow out and the rest are shipped to many bangus farms all over the country. Again, Alsons supply the 50% bangus fry requirement of the whole Philippines!!!

And then the fry is reared in-house either from grow-out sea cages or in fish ponds. They are fed with a soy based formula which is precisely measured to maximum productivity and minimum waste.

There were 45,000 bangus in this sea cage! We swam inside and they were a strong force to behold! Their swooshing sound underwater was awesome. Sea cages grow bangus slower than in ponds. But they are better in taste quality falling under the "premium" category

There were 45,000 bangus in this sea cage! We swam inside and they were a strong force to behold! Their swooshing sound underwater was awesome. Sea cages grow bangus slower than in ponds. But they are better in taste & quality, falling under the “premium” and more expensive category

A wall of powerful silver fish surrounded us. It was a great feeling to see so much fish. All 45,000 of them were our swim mates

A wall of powerful silver fish surrounded us. It was a great feeling to see so much fish. All 45,000 of them were our swim buddies!

Our wonderful guide is Alson's VP for Technical Services Mon Macaraig. Mon takes food from the mechanical pellet feeder and throws it into the fishpond full of voracious eating bangus

Our wonderful guide is Alsons’ VP for Technical Services Mon Macaraig. Mon takes food from the mechanized soy based pellet feeder and throws it into the fishpond full of voracious eating bangus

They are fed from 8 am to 3 pm everyday. The depth of this pond is about a meter. Brackish water is the mix of clean Sarangani Bay saltwater and freshwater

They are fed from 8 am to 3 pm everyday. The depth of this pond is about a meter. The brackish water these fish are in is the mix of clean pristine waters of Sarangani Bay seawater and freshwater

And after about 7 months, the fishpond reared bangus are ready to be harvested. And after 9 months, the sea cage reared bangus are harvested.

This courageous man with a groin and face guard made of stainless steel brings together the net to take out the fish from the pond

This courageous man with a groin and face guard made of stainless steel brings together the net to take out the fish from the pond

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They harvested about 4 tons of fish from this pond and was immediately put to ice and brought to the nearby processing plant for deboning and other processes

Maintaining a "cold chain" through the use of ice, freshly caught fish remain fresh all the way to processing and vacuum packing.

Maintaining a “cold chain” through the use of ice, freshly caught fish remain fresh all the way from processing to vacuum packing to storage and shipping

A massive workforce of expert deboners, this plant churns out products that goes out 60% export to mainly the Filipino communities living in North America. 40% are consumed locally

A massive workforce of expert deboners, this plant churns out products that is 60% for export market, mainly the Filipino communities living in North America and 40% are consumed locally

There are three parts of bones to take out to have boneless bangus. The main vertibrae, the second type is the one that lines the stomach, and the third and most number of bones is the one found all along the back of the fish neatly lined up

There are three parts of bones to take out to have boneless bangus. First is the main vertibrae, the second is the one that lines the stomach, and the third and most number of bones is the one found all along the back of the fish all neatly lined up for plucking

If you want to read an interesting blog entry about bangus, I have a favorite site called Market Manila. Have a good read and the comments are pretty interesting too! It gives an insight to Filipinos living in the Philippines and abroad!

Finally, because I am such a fan of this product, I have the pleasure of showing this well eaten product that is indeed fish for the millions!

Finally, because I am such a fan of this product, I have the pleasure of showing this well eaten product that is indeed fish for the millions!

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About the Author:

Stella was born in Manila, Philippines in 1965. She studied anthropology but ended up in advertising, producing radio and TV commercials for 7 years. After quitting advertising, she ventured into the freelance world in Manila producing video documentaries for a publishing house, government agencies, non govenmental organisations, and the academe. She moved on to producing books and had a stint at working with foreign production companies visiting Manila. Stella, now based in Cairns, produces photo stories with her husband Jürgen Freund.