ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal (PIA)-- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - National Inland Fisheries Technology Center aims to increase dwindling native freshwater fish numbers by breeding them in captivity.
 
Indigenous species such as ayungin, biya, dalag, native hito and martiniko as well as ulang (freshwater prawn) were highlighted in a media tour in Tanay, Rizal on September 14 in a bid to repopulate their numbers.
 
The activity, held in line with the celebration of the 59th National Fish Conservation Week from September 12-16, also includes a demo on induced breeding for biya and native hito.
 
According to data from the South East Asian Fisheries Development Center native, species comprised 71% of fish in Laguna Lake in the 1960s but has declined to only 4% from 2016-2017.
 
BFAR NIFTC chief Romualdo Pol attributes the declining number of native species to various factors such as overfishing, deteriorating water quality, siltation, overfishing, introduction of invasive species and climate change.
 
The lower number of native fish led the agency to intensify efforts to breed in captivity through the operation of the 400 square meter Indigenous Fresh Water Fish Hatchery in Tanay, Rizal.
 
Fingerlings taken from the hatchery's breeders will later be dispersed in inland waters to help revive native fish numbers.
 
NIFTC chief Pol says that as of date, the office has received inquiries from various local government units and private hatcheries who wish to learn the agency' induced breeding technologies. He adds that the agency is also exploring the possibility of aquaculture of native fish. (GG/PIA-Rizal)