Freshwater fish culture development carried out by the Philippine Fisheries Commission and UN/FAO in 1966-1969 gained wide recognition throughout the country. Production of more than three tons of fish per hectare was proven in an upland fish farm. Silver carps attained an average weight of 10 kgs/fish in 11 months, while big- head grew up to 25 kgs (Garcia’s fish farm, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, 1971) in two years.
In 1968, the Philippine Fisheries Commission imported two million Chinese carp fingerlings from Taiwan worth $20,000 (U.S. $1 = P4.00 conversion) or P100,000 C & F Manila.
To assure adequate local supply of fish seedlings, and minimize dollar outflow, government and privately owned fish hatcheries were established.
Success was achieved in induced spawning of silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis, in 1969, and grass carp, Ctenophoryngodon idellus, in 1971.