To promote mudfish aquaculture as an alternative source of income for fish farmers, while also contributing to the conservation of wild fish populations by reducing fishing pressure, the Department of Agriculture-Fisheries Biotechnology Center (DA-FBC) conducted a two-part training on “Mudfish Channa striata Induced Breeding Technology”.

Headed by Dr. Casiano H. Choresca Jr., Scientist I and project leader, the FBC-organized training was composed of lectures and hands-on training on mudfish induced breeding held on February 16-17 and 23-24, 2023 in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

Participants comprised 66 technical staff from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional offices and centers; representatives from various farmers’ associations, non-government organizations, and local government units.

The training is part of the project titled, “Biotechnological approaches in the production of mudfish Channa striata using induced spawning hormones” funded by the DA-Biotechnology Program Office (BPO) through the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The project is also in collaboration with BFAR-National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC) and Mindanao State University-Naawan. 

In a video message, NFRDI Executive Director Dr. Lilian C. Garcia expressed her strong support for promoting mudfish aquaculture in the country as a crucial step towards ensuring food security. She emphasized the significance of the initiative and highlighted the need to increase awareness and encourage more farmers to engage in mudfish farming.

Also present were BPO Director Dr. Claro N. Mingala and BFAR-NFFTC Chief Ma. Jodecel C. Danting both pledged their full support to the initiative and expressed the importance of promoting freshwater fisheries and aquaculture for food sovereignty.

Meanwhile, BFAR-NFFTC’s Head of Support Services Section Evelyn H. Zafra and Head of Organic Aquaculture Production Section Zaldy Hechanova shared their concerns about the declining population of mudfish in the wild. With the development of induced spawning technology, they hoped for increased mudfish production and the revival of its population in the wild in the years to come. ### (John Wilbert Orilla)