Saline tilapia research completed
A NEW variety of tilapia called saline tilapia or tilapia molobicus has been developed in Dagupan City following 15 years of collaborative research among Filipino and French scientists.
The research, undertaken at the 24-hectare National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center (NIFTDC) was led by Dr. Pierre Morriosens, an aquaculture scientist of the French government.
Unlike the native tilapia which grows in brackish water, saline tilapia thrives on saline environment, is easier to grow, and reaches a bigger size.
Dr. Westly Rosario, NIFTDC chief, said saline tilapia was developed to provide additional protein food on the dining table of Filipinos.
Rosario, who collaborated with Morrisens in the research, said the hybrid saline tilapia can be distributed to fish farmers in the coastal areas who want to raise it in cages.
Meanwhile, Rosario said Morrisens, who is leaving for France soon and is due for retirement, is considered the father of the Molobicus Project in the Philippines.
Morrisens was feted in a ceremony honoring him last week by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and NIFTDC for his accomplishments and contribution to the development of sustainable aquaculture in the country.
During the ceremony, the manual on the raising of saline tilapia was presented to fishery technicians, representatives of the academe and local government units at the Asian Fisheries Academy.—LVM
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