The Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UP Visayas (UPV) presented studies on tropical anguillid eel at the Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2024 organized by the World Aquaculture Society, in Surabaya, Indonesia from July 2-5, 2024.
Asst. Prof. Fredson Huervana led his project team composed of Prof. Dr. Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar and two research assistants to share the findings of their three research works of their project “Development of brackishwater culture systems for tropical anguillid eel, Anguilla marmorata, in the Philippines” under the Nursery of Eel Enhancement and Development Program (UPV NEED Project II), which is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARD).
The UPV NEED project, which aims to promote and stimulate the expansion of tropical eel aquaculture production and industry outputs in the Philippines, focuses on the development of brackishwater nursery system, growth, and survival for A. Marmorata through a combination of practical feed formulation and innovative feeding techniques.
Huervana presented their study titled “Optimizing stocking densities for nursery cage culture of tropical anguillid eel Anguilla marmorata in Philippine brackishwater ponds.” This study represents one of the initial phases in establishing nursery pond culture for A. marmorata in the Philippines.
Project research assistants, Ms. Kelee Ira B. Nodque and Mr. Cedric Jay A. Nantong, presented their research works that focused on the successful weaning of A. marmorata larvae to artificial feeds.
Nodque discussed weaning of glass eels onto a moist artificial diet titled, “Dietary transition of tropical anguillid eel Anguilla marmorata larvae from fish meat to fish meal based formulated feed: A preliminary evaluation.”
On the other hand, Nantong shared a study titled “Evaluating the dietary transition of tropical anguillid eel Anguilla marmorata elver from dough to crumble diets.”
Both studies seek to address the issue of feed acceptance during the initial adaptation phase of glass eels which often leads to lower survival rates. Results from the studies highlighted the importance of weaning of glass eels with a suitable diet to improve growth rates and survival during this crucial life stage.
In addition to their participation to the international event, the team visited the Politeknik Kelautan dan Perikanan Sidoarjo (Sidoarjo Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic, a tertiary institution that provides vocational education in the field of maritime and fisheries, where they also presented their studies and exchanged valuable insights with the researchers and faculty members of the said institution.
This was followed by a campus tour where in the faculty and students of Sidoarjo Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic showcased the facilities, technologies, and fisheries products that they have developed.
The visit resulted to a possible educational partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia in fisheries education to uplift the fisheries industry in the region.
Huervana was awarded a Travel Grant by the University of the Philippines Office of International Linkages (UP OIL) under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Travel Grant Program offers financial assistance to qualified UP graduate and postgraduate students, regular faculty members, REPS, and permanent administrative staff who aim to present their research or creative work at international colloquiums and conferences.
The Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2024 served as an avenue for the project to conduct knowledge exchange and solicit existing advancements in Indonesia that may be adopted in the country for the benefit of the fisheries sector.
