Freshwater Giant Prawn Farming

Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Growing freshwater prawn is a promising alternative to the expensive lobster and tiger prawn. The freshwater prawn, locally known as ulang, can be substituted for lobster and tiger prawn (sugpo) because of their appearance and excellent taste. Among the 15 species of freshwater prawn in the Philippines, the most popular to culture is the macrobrachium rosenbergii, also known as udang in ilocano, kising-kising in Pangasinan, and swahe in other regions.

The macrobrachium rosenbergii is appealing to culture because of its rapid growth performance and ability to survive and grow in turbid water conditions. Ulang can tolerate moderate temperature and salinity changes, and can be caught in tributaries and cultured in ponds, tanks, cages, and rice paddies. They feed on anything such as terrestrial animal feeds, fish feeds, kitchen leftovers, and vegetables like carrots, winged beans, etc.

Freshwater prawn can be used in polyculture together with tilapia and carp. They can tolerate temperature up to 34oC and actively feed at night. They consumed less feed than tilapia since they are nibblers and slow feeder. They grow to a maximum size of more than 1 kilogram per piece and they command high price in the market.

GROW-OUT OPERATION OF ULANG

Factors affecting success of grow-out operation:

1. Feasibility of the site

2. Water Supply/Water Quality

3. Topography

4. Quality of soil

5. Free from flooding

6. Quality of Stock

7. Market acceptance

8. High level Management practices

9. Peace and order situation

I. PROCEDURES IN POND OPERATION:

Pond Preparation

1. Pond draining – To collect eliminate old stocks, predators and unwanted species.

2. Pond poisoning – Application of biodegradable organic materials such as tea seed cake and tobacco dust to kill all unwanted species.

3. Pond washing – to remove the effect of toxic chemicals when insecticides were used.

4. Leveling of pond bottom – removes excess mud and dirt, ensure complete drainage and facilitate ease of seining during harvesting.

5. Sun drying – helps eliminate and evaporates toxic gases & ammonia especially in old ponds

6. Screening of water inlet and outlet – prevent entrance of unwanted species and escape of stocks

7. Filling the pond with water –Fill the pond with water from 0.8 to 1.5 meters depth.

8. Application of lime– The rate of application is 100g / m2 or 1,000 kg./ ha

9. Basal fertilization

10. Installation of Artificial shelters – arrange the shelters in the pond (30 – 50 pcs/1000m2)

II. NURSING OF POST LARVAE (PL) TO JUVENILE

Nursing of PL to Juvenile Prawn– The size of the Post larvae ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 cm must be reared to juvenile size of 5 cm to 8 cm before transferring them into the grow-out ponds to attain marketable size.

a. Nursery Ponds. The size of the pond must be 50 sq.m. with a depth; 0.8-1.5 m

b. Artificial shelters. This are placed in the nursery ponds to serve as hiding place of the Post larvae during molting. Artificial shelter is needed because when prawns are soft shelled they will be eaten or cannibalized by the hard shells prawn. The following can be used as artificial shelters:

1. twigs, bamboos , sampaloc twigs

2. pipes, PVC, or recycled materials like nets

3. bricks or stones

4. used mineral water bottles (250-300 ml)

c. Nets used for substrate can be suspended from float across the pond and weighted with sinkers to serve as hiding place for molting prawns to prevent or reduce cannibalism.

III. GROWING OF JUVENILE TO MARKETABLE SIZE

Stocking Density

Extensive – The stocking density is 1-3 pcs/m2, with the use of fertilization only (chicken manure and 16-20-0) at a rate of 1,000-2,000 kg/ha and 100-200 kg/ha respectively for basal application.

Semi- intensive – A stocking density of 4-8 pcs/m2 with the use of fertilization and feeding. A monthly exchange of 30% of water in the pond is done to maintain water quality

Intensive – The stocking density of 10 pcs /m2 and above with feeding, fertilization, frequent water exchange and aeration using paddle wheel is also done to ensure enough supply of dissolve oxygen for the prawn.

Stocking Procedure

Acclimatize the prawn juveniles into the pond water for 10-15 min. before releasing the prawn in the pond water to prevent thermal stress that will cause mortality.

CAUSES OF MORTALITY:

a. Cannibalism- due to lack of food and shelters

b. Predators – mudfish, catfish, frogs

c. Water pollution – insecticide, pesticide, industrial waste products

Types of Feeds for Commercial Farming of Ulang

1. Live or fresh food (termites, earthworm, insects

2. Plant vegetable feedstuffs

3. Formulated diets

4. Reformulated diets (ground tilapia feeds mixed with fish meal & starch as binder)

5. Chicken pellets (to be given during the first 2 mos. of culture)

6. Ground fish flesh mixed with cooked broken rice (to be given after two mos. of stocking)

7. Tilapia sinking pellets

8. Trash fish

Initial feeding rate using trash fish:

• 5% of total body weight

For dried diet, chicken pellets/fish feed:

• 3% of total body weight

• prawn are nocturnal feeder 40 % of feed ration must be given at night.

Regular water quality monitoring and feeding activities of the prawn must be properly observed.

DETERMINATION OF AVERAGE BODY WEIGHT (ABW), DAILY FEED RATION (DFR), TOTAL FEED REQUIREMENTS (TFR) FEED CONVERSION RATIO (FCR)

* The closer the FCR to 1.0 kg. The better is the feeds. Good feed have FCR’s of between 1.5 to 2.0 kgs.

HARVESTING OF ULANG

Harvesting of ulang can be done when they reached its marketable size. After 4to 5 months of stocking, ulang can be harvested through selective harvesting or total harvesting. 

Methods of harvesting

1. Selective – this is done by seining the prawns using size 17 net. The bottom of the seine net should be kept intact on the pond bottom to avoid escape of the prawn.

2. Total harvesting – this is done by total draining of the pond. The prawns can be collected in the catch basin manually by using scoop net or with bare hands.

Marketable Sizes of Prawn After 4 To 5 Months Culture 

Measurement of length is from tip of the rostrum to end of the telson

Simple Cost Estimate

(1,000 sqm Ulang Fishpond Project)

For more information please call or write to:

The Project Manager

BFAR-NFFTC

CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Tel No. (044) 4560-671 to 72

Fax no. (044) 4560-671

E-mail address:nfftrc@mozcom.com

Source: NFFTC Technology and Information Services DA-BFAR

The Food and Agriculture

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, and/or stimulate growth. Historically, people secured food through two methods: hunting and gathering, and agriculture.

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. In the developed world, industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture has become the dominant system of modern farming, although there is growing support for sustainable agriculture (e.g. permaculture or organic agriculture).

Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment. It has been defined as "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will last over the long term: satisfy human food and fiber needs; make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

Rice Clam Culture

Corbicula fluminea is a species of freshwater clam, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in family Corbiculidae.

This species is of originally mainly Asian origin and thus it is often commonly called Asian clam or Asiatic clam. In the aquarium and koi pond trade it is often call Golden Clam or Golden Freshwater Clam. In Southeast Asia it is known as the prosperity clam or good luck clam.

Native species clam originally occurs in Russia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, but also in parts of Africa.

Clams (Agihis in Hiligaynon)

Clams grow naturally in many rice paddies and rural people have traditionally harvested them. This was true until chemical use in rice paddies resulted in the elimination of these clams in many areas. Intentional culturing of clams simply adds one extra step to the traditional clam harvesting -the seeding of clams.

From work with farmers in Quirino province, it was found that:

· Clam culture in rice serves as a buffer against unforeseen crop losses due to flooding or diseases like tungro.

· Clam production serves as a source of additional income (in 1 hectare paddy the average yield was 226 kg marketable clams valued at P1,800/ha.)

· In addition to extra income, the clams serve as a source of protein and minerals for the farmer's family.

PROCEDURE:

1. 20-25 days after planting, increase the irrigation water in the paddies to the maximum tolerable depth proportionate to the rice plant (approximately 5 cm depth). If the crop needs weeding, the rotary weeder can be used before irrigation.

Increase the irrigation water in the paddies

 2. Let the water stand for 2 days to soften the soil and to neutralize sold toxicity or pesticide residues.

Let the water stand for 2 days

 3. On the third day, drain the water and replace it with fresh irrigation water to the depth mentioned above.

Drain the water and replace it with fresh irrigation water

 4. Evenly broadcast baby clams along the rice furrows. Seeding should be done in every other furrow.

Evenly broadcast baby

 5. Harvest the clams as soon as they reach the desired marketable size (size of the new P50 coin) or just before harvesting the rice.

Harvest the clams

Note:

· Avoid using chemical insecticides; as a substitute, use botanicals.
· Don't introduce carp into the paddies seeded with clams. Carp eat clams.
· Faster growth of clams is attained when fields are fertilized with organic materials.
· Medium- to long-maturing rice varieties should be used in clam-rice culture. This allows the clams   to stay longer in the paddy field.
· Rice-clam system is best suited to areas where there is a continuous supply of water.

Clams Recipe

Vegetable-Duck-Fish Culture (Tinola Garden)

Tinola garden, as the name implies, is a type of garden where major ingredients in the preparation of tinola (a kind of poultry or fish soup with vegetables) are found in a 200 sq.m area.

Vegetable-duck-fish culture

BASIC COMPONENTS:

a. Duck raising for meat and/or eggs
b. Mini-fishpond
c. Vegetable growing

This vegetable-duck-fish culture is actually a modification of the original mini-fishpond operation. This technology, however, optimizes land use by planting vegetables on the dikes, fence and the construction of trellis over the mini-pond. Depending on the preferences of the farmer, dikes could be planted with different vegetables and crops (e.g., leaf, fruit, root or legumes) and areas along the fence and trellis with any climbing vegetables.

ADVANTAGES:

Some of the advantages of this tinola garden are the following:

• increase in quantity and variety of food for home consumption
• ensures fresh supply of poultry meat and eggs, fish and vegetables
• practical for those farmers whose land area is less than 1.0 hectare and adopting the rice fish culture.

NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS:

A. Vegetables

• On the trellis and fence -- squash, patola and other climbing vegetables.
• After the construction of pond dikes, the trellis could be constructed and planting of varieties of crops could immediately follow.

B. Mini-fishpond

• The dikes should be at least 1 m high, 1/2 m wide on the top and 1 m wide at the base.
•  Water inside the pond must not be more than 1/2 m (to minimize fish losses).
• Recommended fish for stocking is Tilapia (Tilapia nilotica) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at the rate of 3 fingerlings/sq.m.
• Low-cost feeds may include rice bran, crushed snails and kitchen refuse.

Note: Refer to technology paper on Rice-Fish Culture for feeding and other management techniques.

C. Duck-Raising

Shed house (4 m x 1 m) made of low-cost and locally available materials (e.g., bamboo, ipil-ipil, madre de cacao, cogon, nipa, etc.) located in a 25 sq.m area in one section of the pond.

• Feeding troughs and waterers using old jeep or truck tires, clay pots or old cooking utensils.
• Stock: 8-12 heads (any species, depending on the farmer).
• Feeds may consist of rice bran, crushed banana trunk, crushed snails, kitchen refuse, kangkong, etc. Feeding is done twice a day.

Note: For more detailed information on duck raising, please see the technology paper on Backyard Duck Raising for Meat and Eggs.

Care and management of mini-ponds

The secret of success in growing fish in mini-ponds is proper care of the fish and management of the pond. Good pond management and care of the fish means faster growth and more fish for the family. The major points to remember are the following:

1. POND CONSTRUCTION

Care and management of mini-ponds

• Establish the mini-pond near a water source such as streams, springs, irrigation canals or manually operated pumps (pitcher pump), etc., which is free from flooding and with good drainage.
• The soil at the bottom and side of the minipond must be well packed to minimize seepage. If the soil is sandy or porous, line it with a mixture of carabao or cow dung, clay soil and cement.
• Plant grasses on the banks to prevent soil erosion. Grasses that grow fast and spread rapidly are ideal for this purpose.
• Put screens on the inlet and overflow pipes to prevent the entrance of predators and at the same- time to keep the fish from escaping.

2. WATER—QUALITY, DEPTH AND TEMPERATURE

• Water is of vital importance in raising fish. Always make sure that it is free from toxic substances, of the right temperature and the proper volume (depth). However, the warmwater fish do not require a constant supply of a large volume of fresh water. Most freshwater fish can be raised with water temperature ranging from 20°C - 40°C.
• The ideal water temperature ranges from 25°C - 30°C. In order to maintain the right temperature, plant leguminous trees like ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), katuray (Sesbania grandiflora), madre de cacao (Gliricidia septum) and Dapdap (Erythina) on two sides of the mini-pond, about 1.5 m - 2 m from the bank. Orient the planting of trees on the east-west direction to allow enough sunlight into the pond. The leaf litter also serves to improve aquatic life.
• Occasionally, the water in the pond becomes turbid and muddy. To check the turbidity of water apply lime at the rate of 1 tbsp/sq.m. Dissolve the lime water and sprinkle it over the pond.
• Maintain water depth at 1 m so that the sun's rays can penetrate the water and induce the growth of plankton (natural fish food). Production of plankton decreases as water depth increases. In shallow water (.5 m), the water temperature easily gets high during summer. High temperature retards fish growth.
• Avoid letting the water out from the pond to prevent the fertilizers and plankton from flowing out.
• Drain the pond once a year. Keep it dry for a period of 2-3 weeks to aerate the soil.

3. POND FERTILIZATION

Fertilize the pond

Any kind of animal manure can be used

• The production of algae and microorganisms in the mini-pond is the most important task for the low-cost production of fish. Fertilize the pond at least twice a month for the water to remain greenish. Green color indicates that the water has plenty of small plants and microorganisms which serve as nutritious food for the fish.
• Any kind of animal manure can be used. However, chicken manure makes a better fertilizer. Apply .5-1 kg chicken manure/m. The manure can be placed directly in one corner of the pond or put in a burlap sack and submerged 20 cm below the water surface. Never broadcast the manure on the surface as this, in turn, will reduce sunlight entry into the water, resulting in poor plankton growth.
• Dried leaves of leguminous trees can also be used to fertilize the pond. Put the leaves in porous bags and submerge in water 20 cm below the surface. One to two sacks of dried leaves can help fertilize the mini-pond. Dried rice straw can also be dumped directly in one corner of the pond. Occasional broadcasting of green leaves of leguminous trees (smallleaf varieties such as Calliandra, Leucaena, etc.) is also very helpful and promotes aquatic life.
• If a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer is desired, 500 9 of organic fertilizer and 10 9 of inorganic fertilizer (preferably urea or 16-20-0)/m water can be applied to produce good results.
• On soils or water that are acidic, lime must be added. It can be broadcast on the bottom of the pond or put in a porous bag. Tie the bag to prevent it from submerging into the bottom of the pond. If lime is not available, it can be substituted by aged wood ash (not fresh ash or ash from paper).

4. FINGERLINGS

Stock only high-quality fingerlings. Secure your fingerlings from reliable hatcheries.

5. FEEDS AND FEEDING

• For faster growth, fish should be given supplemental feeds. A diet consisting of 20-30% ground ipil-ipil leaves or Azolla and 70-80% fine rice bran is recommended.
• When affordable, supplemental feeding of 100% fine rice bran is still the most economical (when natural food plankton in the mini-pond is abundant).
• Feed the fish twice a day, morning and afternoon.
• For a more efficient feeding, mash the feeds and place in a feeding tray made of fish net.
• The fish can also be fed with green leaves of kangkong, sweet potato, Azolla, kitchen leftovers, boiled sweet potato, cassava, gabi, crushed golden snails and white ants (termites).
• Surplus tilapia fingerlings (fresh) can be crushed and mixed with fine rice bran. This diet is very nutritious.
• Other cheap methods of feeding fish are:

1 Hanging a lighted lamp over the center of the pond. At night, insects are attracted to the light and hover around it. The insects will fall into the pond where the fish can eat them.

2. Feeding the fish with maggots (small worms). To produce maggots, hang pieces of meat or dead animals on a pole 2-3 ft above the water surface. Flies and other insects will lay their eggs on the meat or dead animals. After 2-3 days, maggots will come out and fall into the water.

6. CONTROL OF OVERPOPULATION

Overpopulation of fish is one of the problems in raising fish (tilapia) in mini-ponds. To obtain good yields of harvestable or marketable size of fish, population control is necessary. Any of the following methods may be used:

• Scooping the fry with a fine net early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The fries swim at the edges of the pond at this time of the day.
• Introducing predators into the pond such as mudfish (dalag) and catfish (hito) at 2% of the total stocking rate. To prevent predators from preying on the original stock, the size of the predators must be smaller than the original stock and should weigh less than one gram.

7. HARVESTING

• After 4-5 months, the bigger fish can already be harvested. Catch them with a hook and line using earthworms or golden snails as bait or use a sweep net.
• Harvest only enough fish for the family to consume.
• To ensure a continuous supply of fish for the family, replace the number of fish harvested immediately by collecting fingerlings from the breeding/hatchery pond.

How To Raise Tilapia In The Backyard

Tilapia ranks as the second most cultivated fish in the world, after carp. Tilapia is one of the most popular farmed fish in the world and its production is increasing. Tilapia is considered sustainable for raising thanks to its herbivore eating habits, feeding mainly on plankton, filamentous algae, aquatic macrophytes and other vegetable matter. As a result, tilapia does not accumulate pollutants and other toxins in their bodies.

It has become the mainstay of many small-scale aquaculture projects of poor fish farmers in the developing world. According to Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, the executive director of the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), tilapia is now cultured in more than 70 countries.

Fishery experts have dubbed tilapia as “aquatic chicken" because it possesses many positive attributes that suit the fish for a varied range of aquaculture systems. For one, tilapia tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions and is highly resistant to diseases and parasitic infections. 

Other good traits of tilapia include excellent growth rates on a low-protein diet, ready breeding in captivity and ease of handling; and, more importantly, wide acceptance as food fish. 

Next to milkfish (more popularly known as “bangus”), tilapias are among the widely cultured species in the Philippines. The culture of tilapia in freshwater ponds and cages has been a commercial success:

Currently, there are an estimated 15,000 hectares of freshwater ponds and 500 hectares of cages in lakes in lakes and reservoirs producing over 50,000 metric tons of tilapia. 

Tilapia was first introduced into the country in the 1950s. Today, there are four species raised in the country: Oreochronlis niloticus, O. mossambicus, O. aureus, and Tilapia zillii.

Business opportunities

The Philippines now ranks fourth among the top ten largest tilapia producers in the world – after China, Egypt and Thailand. Other top producing countries, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), are Indonesia, Uganda Mexico, Tanzania, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. 

Tilapia production grew by 5 percent during the last 14 years, noted the industry strategic plan for tilapia. This served as a major determinant in the gross supply of tilapia in the country. Tilapia surplus stood around 2,000 to 5,000 metric tons during the same period. At 2020, the surplus is expected to reach around 10,000 metric tons. 

Tilapia products – fresh and frozen fillets, whole and gutted fish – have become important commodities in the international seafood trade. However, the Philippines cannot supply the international market with frozen whole fish since our price is much higher than those coming from Thailand and Taiwan.

Here are some tips from the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc.:

Site selection

Select a site where water is accessible throughout the year. It should be well exposed to sunlight, which hastens the growth and multiplication of small aquatic plants called algae (”lumot”), which serve as food for the tilapia. More important, it should not be flooded during rainy season.

Pond preparation

The size of the pond should be determined by the number of fish you want to raise. A good guide is 2-3 mature fish per square meter of water surface. The depth of the pond should be one meter with water not less than three-fourths meter deep. Manage the water so that it will not flow continuously through the pond.

To insure that no fish will escape, fine-meshed bamboo or fence should screen ponds that have waterways connecting them to canals or outside water. Both the inside and outside end of each waterway should be screened. Use big bamboos for inlets and outlets for small ponds.

Pond fertilization

Since the pond is newly constructed, you have to apply fertilizer. Do this one week before stocking. Apply chicken manure on the pond bottom with water depth of about 6 centimeters at the rate of one kilo for every lo square meters. 

Fertilize the pond once a month to insure good production of algae. You can either use commercial fertilizer or organic matter like manure, compost, ipil-ipil leaves, etc. If you do not have organic matter, apply every month one-half kilo of urea and one half kilo of 15-15-15 for even, 100 square meters of water surface.

Securing fish fingerlings

Obtain your first supply of young tilapia from any reliable fishpond owner. One source of tilapia fingerlings is the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc, in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. If fingerlings are unavailable, you need about 20-30 pairs of good breeders to start reproducing in your tilapia pond of 10 x 20 feet. If fingerlings are available, you will need to plan on about 5 to 6 fingerlings per square meter of water surface area. The most common breeds of tilapia available are: Nilotica, Mozambique, and GIF (genetically modified)

Stocking the pond

Before stocking the pond with tilapia, be sure to drain it thoroughly and remove the weeds and unwanted fish that may be present. Allow your pond to dry up until it cracks before refilling with fresh, clean water. Fertilize the pond one week before stocking.

Stock the pond either early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the water temperature is low in order to avoid weakening of the fish. Allow the water in the pond to mix gradually with the water in the fish container before putting the fish into the pond.

Care and maintenance

• Feed daily during morning and afternoon at one portion of the pond. Supplement feeds with fine rice bran, bread crumbs, earthworms, termites, and others at an initial rate of 5% of the total body weight of the fish.
• Maintain the natural fishfood by adding more fertilizer. Place chicken droppings in sacks and suspend in the water at every corner of the pond. Put 2.5 kg of chicken manure per bag.
• Maintain a water level depth of 1-1.5 meters. Gradually remove excess fingerlings after the third month of stocking. Retain six fingerlings per square meter. (As another source of income, you can sell those excess fingerlings to other farmers in the area.)
• Plant “kangkong” and “gabi” at one portion to provide shade for the fish during hot weather and to serve as growing media for natural fish food. Water lily also provides shade. However, do not totally cover the pond with plants as this will interfere with the natural food production process.
• Prevent seepages and leakages by patching them with muds. Clear the pond dikes of weeds.
• Check the gates occasionally to prevent entry of other fish species and avoid loss of stock. If your home lot is easily flooded, place stones around the top of dikes to prevent the escape of fish if the water overflows.
• Find ways to keep the mudfish (”haluan”) out of your tilapia pond. The mudfish is a ferocious predator of tilapia fingerlings and ever larger fish.
• Plant more trees within the sources of water to maintain the flow. Protect the riverbeds from toxic waste water and pesticides and avoid dumping of garbage.
• Plant trees and grasses near the dike to avoid erosion.

Harvesting

You can harvest tilapia by using a dip net or a lift net. Lower the net down to the bottom of the pond and spread a small amount of feed on the water just above the net. Lift the net as fast as possible to prevent the escape of the tilapia. After harvesting, stock the pond again.

Integrated farming

Research at the MBRLC shows that you can make your fishpond more productive and profitable by raising a pig at the site of the pond. Pig wastes go directly to the pond and help to fertilize the tiny plants that serve as the tilapia’s main food. Tests have proven that tilapia cultured in this kind of pond can be eaten without any harmful effect. Many farmers in Mindanao have already adopted this technology in their own fishponds.

Uses of tilapia

Tilapia is a good quality food and has a firm and delicious flesh. Unlike milkfish (”bangus”), it has few fine bones. 

Tilapia is suitable also for processing into dried, salted dried, smoked or pickled products. It is a good insect and worm predator and is known to help clean many injurious insects from ponds. To a certain extent, tilapia can help in keeping down the number of mosquito larvae, thus preventing them from developing into troublesome and harmful mosquitoes.

Beer Marinated Tilapia

Serving Size: 6

Categories: Main Dish

INGREDIENTS

• 2 and 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets

• 2 teaspoons butter or margarine (2 to 4 teaspoons) — softened

• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 can beer/ale

• 1 tablespoon chopped shallots

LEMON-PARMESAN SAUCE

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

GARNISHES

• 2 lemons — sliced

• Fresh parsley

Rinse the tilapia fillets in cold water and drain thoroughly. Marinate the tilapia in a shallow pan with the beer and shallots in a shallow pan. Top with butter or margarine and lemon juice. Broil about 4 inches from the source of heat for approximately 5 to 6 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork. Top each portion with 1-2 tablespoons of Lemon-Parmesan Sauce; broil 2-3 minutes or until sauce puffs and turns golden brown. Place fillets on serving plate; garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

For more information, contact:

The Freshwater Aquaculture Center

Central Luzon State University Science

City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Telefax: (044) 456-0681

Agri-Aqua Network International (AANI) Inc.

FTI Ave. corner Duhat Road, FTI Complex, Taguig City

Tel.Nos: 02-839-1782; 02-837-003382

Fax No.: 02-839-1772

Web: www.aani.net

SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department

Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo

Trunkline connecting all offices: (033) 336-2965, 511-9170 to 71

Fax: (033) 335-1008

Email: aqdchief@aqd.seafdec.org.ph

Web: www.seafdec.org.ph

Dr. Rafael D. Guererro III (PCAMRD)

Phone: (049) 536-1582/5578

Web: www.pcamrd.dost.gov.ph

Technology Resource Center

TRC Building, 103 J. Abad Santos cor. Lopez Jaena Sts.,

Little Baguio, San Juan, City

Tel: 727-6205 loc. 208, 209 / 0928-5022684

Web: www.tlrc.gov.ph

Raising Tilapia in Hydrovortex Tanks

Baliwood Tilapia Farm

Galong, Dagatan, Dolores, Quezon

Email: woodgloust@aol.com or call 63-42-565-6664

Web: www.baliwoodtilapiafarm.com

Source: Agribusinessweek.com