n a significant stride towards achieving the goals of the National Bangus Development Program, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Regional Fisheries Office 9 successfully transferred 5,000 Bangus fingerlings from the nursery pond of the Mampang Brackishwater Demonstration Fish Farm (MBDFF) to its broodstock pond on January 9-10, 2024.

The objective behind the transfer of these milkfish fingerlings is to nurture and sustain them as bangus broodstocks, serving as a vital source of bangus eggs and fry for the forthcoming establishment of legislated hatcheries within the region. Over the next 3-5 years, these bangus specimens will undergo maturation processes for breeding purposes.

The demand for milkfish fry in Zamboanga Peninsula consistently surpasses the available supply, often leading to dependence on imported milkfish fry from other countries. To overcome this challenge, there is a growing emphasis on the local cultivation of milkfish broodstock. The BFAR IX initiative is dedicated to developing indigenous milkfish broodstock, ensuring continuous and year-round availability of milkfish fry to bolster the aquaculture industry.

The seamless execution of this activity was spearheaded by Mr. Jolser B. Signar, MBDFF Station Manager, along with the dedicated efforts of the staff and collaboration with personnel from the Fisheries Production and Support Services Division (FPSSD), and On-the-Job Trainees (OJTs) of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST).