The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), through its Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center (FFRDC), in partnership with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Division (SEAFDEC/AQD), successfully harvested 850 kilograms of snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii), on March 26, 2026, marking a major milestone in efforts to expand high-value aquaculture production in the Philippines.

The harvest is the result of a joint project titled “Grow-out Culture of Snubnose Pompano in Brackishwater Ponds,” which aims to assess the species’ production performance and promote aquaculture diversification.

Conducted at NFRDI-FFRDC facility in Butong, Taal, Batangas, the study utilized two brackishwater ponds covering a combined area of 2,300 square meters.

Stocked at a density of 1.5 fish per square meter, the pompano were cultured over eight months using science-based aquaculture management practices. The project yielded promising results, with fish reaching an average body weight of 350 grams, considered marketable size, and achieving a survival rate of 71.5 percent.

Recognized as a high-value and widely consumed species, snubnose pompano commands strong prices in the market, selling for around PhP 450 per kilogram in wet markets and up to PhP 800 per piece in restaurants. Its strong demand underscores its potential as a profitable option for fish farmers.

The initiative builds on earlier collaborations between NFRDI and SEAFDEC/AQD to promote sustainable aquaculture technologies and introduce high-value marine species adaptable to local conditions. The successful demonstration of pompano culture in brackishwater ponds offers a viable production model for coastal communities seeking alternative livelihoods.

The project was implemented under the leadership of NFRDI Executive Director Maria Theresa Mutia and SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao. It was spearheaded by Project Leaders Myleen Magistrado and Roger Edward Mamauag, with support from Associate Researcher Edgar Somblingo and Technical Assistants Janice Tambirao, Janet Baral, and James Carl Arespi.

NFRDI emphasized that the results reaffirm the potential of snubnose pompano as a sustainable and economically viable aquaculture species, contributing to increased fish production, strengthened food security, and enhanced livelihood opportunities across the country. ### (James Carl Arespi and John Reymar Badar)