SEAFDEC pursues round scad aquaculture programme

Attempts to farm round scad in the Philippines by Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) are continuing following broodstock collection at Hamtic, Antique.

The round scad (known in the Philippines as galunggong or tamudyos) broodstock, which were collected on 10 May, were immediately transported by sea and land to experimental facilities at SEAFDEC/AQD's Tigbauan Main Station. The following night, collected broodstock were acclimated in temporary net cages mounted on an outrigger boat, before making the 2-hour trip to Tigbauan the following day.

SEAFDEC/AQD successfully spawned the round scad in 2021 and grew limited numbers to early-fingerling size in 2022. Ongoing broodstock collection aims to scale up experiments and achieve commercially-viable numbers of fingerlings for grow-out.

The team partnered with a local fishing company after receiving approval to operate a purse seine from Hamtic Mayor Julius Pacificador.

© JF Aldon