MLBA7: February / March 2009
The Pangasius Catfish: Finding its way to Philippine aquaculture
The pangasius - locally known as Mekong kanduli or kanduhito - is an omnivorous fish that can adapt well to different feeds and can survive in water with low oxygen. Sometimes called sharkfish because of its sharp dorsal fins, the pangasius is prevalent in the Mekong Delta and a favourite staple for the region's impoverished. Known for its enormous size, the adult Pangasius can reach 4 feet in length and can weigh up to 44 kilogrammes or 97 pounds. The specie can be cultured in fishponds, concrete fish tanks and cages.
Re-tapping its opportunities was pioneered by feed manufacturer Vitarich Corporation, whose chairman Rogelio Sarmiento, upon his visit to Vietnam, got impressed on the pangasius' vast market potentials. With the help of some government agencies, the company opened several techno-demo farms in Mindanao where production has started to gain ground. In General Santos City, cultivation of the fish is becoming popular and the province is aiming to produce a stable supply.
According to Rochelle Otoc, industry development officer of the regional Department of Trade and Industry, the production cycle for pangasius is six months, with a piece weighing 1 to 1 ½ kilograms. A hectare of freshwater pond could accommodate 100,000 fingerlings, which could net at least 85,000 kilograms at 85 percent survival rate, she said on conservative estimates.
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