TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office No. 2, through its Fisheries Resource Management Section, organized a three-day hands-on training on Induced Spawning of Ayungin in an effort to explore its aquaculture potential.

Ayungin or Leiopotherapon plumbeus, commonly known as the silver perch, is a species of fish in the family Terapontidae, the grunters, that is endemic to the Philippines.

The training which was held at Aparri Brackishwater Technology Outreach Station (ABTOS) in Punta, Aparri, Cagayan on June 14-16, gathered participants from BFAR outreach stations, provincial fishery offices, and regional office.

Participants were immersed in activities such as sex identification of ayungin, hatchery operations, preparation of artemia, and stocking of ayungin fry in hapa nets.

Dr. Frolan A. Aya, head of Aquaculture Department of Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Binangonan Rizal Station, taught to the participants the breeding and culture of ayungin and shared thetechnology of induced spawning and hatchery rearing of ayungin.

Regional Director Angel Encarnacion said the training is in support to the implementation of Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) project through production of indigenous species (ayungin) for stock enhancement. (MDCT/PIA Cagayan)