THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will launch Oplan Sagip Ludong, a wide “fish-hunt” in Aparri next month for 60 pieces of live ludong (Cestreaus plicatilis), also known as the “President’s fish”, reputedly the most expensive fish being sold in the country.

The only live ludong, weighing 1.5 kilograms, in captivity at the BFAR research center in Bonuan Binloc in Dagupan City was caught in the Cagayan River in Aparri town five years ago.  It fetches as much as P4,000 per kilogram in the market.

Ludong is an indigenous fish   in the Philippines found in the rivers of Caraballo, Cordillera and Sierra Madre mountains. A very rare and elusive fish, ludong could be bought only during the last week of October until early November of each year. The fish is known for its unique taste and peculiar aroma.

According to Dr. Westly Rosario, BFAR interim executive director and the research center chief, the first half of October provides the best opportunity to catch live ludong.

He said a temporary halfway facility will be set up to prepare for the capture of the fish to enable the fish to acclimatize to its new environment in captivity. He added that aided by equipment obtained from Norway, they have been able to learn more about its habitat and environment.

Ludong is called the “President’s fish” because it makes a special gift befitting very special people like the President. Placed inside a big aquarium, this ludong is a special attraction here and known to be elusive to visitors holding cameras.

Rosario said that ludong, now considered as endangered specie, has good potential for both aquaculture and research for a program will be developed to protect and enhance its environment and breeding.

Rosario said that about 30 other “probable” ludong species, about four to five inches big, are still being studied by BFAR researchers. These were donated by Dr. Lino Edralin Lim of Aparri, Cagayan.

“We’re not sure if these are really ludong,” Rosario said.

The donated ludong “look-alikes” are undergoing morphological identification and will be subjected to DNA profiling.

Fishermen and fish vendors in Aparri have noted that the volumes of catch as well as the sizes have decreased over the years. This was verified by BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center researchers who noted that ludong from weighed 2.4 kgs in 1998 to 0.25 kg in 2001; no ludong was reportedly caught in 2002 and 2003.

It is suspected that the presence or absence of strong typhoons in the region influence the downward migration of the species, Ludong being a catadromous fish specie (meaning fish in upstream rivers and migrate downstream to the sea to spawn). — EVA

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