Freshwater Aquaculture contributes 11.76% of the total Fisheries Production.
Freshwater aquaculture benefits poor rural communities in many developing countries, enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of poor people
The major species produced in freshwater aquaculture include Tilapia (79.18%); milkfish (13.76%); Carps (5.64%); mudfish (0.29%), Gourami (0.05%) Freshwater Shrimp, Ulang (0.001%), other species (0.02%)
Production of the major species cultured in freshwater comes from fishpond (46.47%) , Fishcage (32.07 %), Fishpen 21.35%), Small Farm reservoir (0.07%) and Rice fish (0.01%).
Some Problems in the Aquaculture Industry:
- Low supply of fry.
- Lack of quality fingerlings and culture materials.
- Lack of capital
- Lack of technical support or information.
- Lack of area for expansion, high production costs, difficulty in availing credit, low and fluctuating prices, and problems brought about by natural calamities and weather disturbances.
- Location specific problems in the regions e.g. lacked of manpower and high market prices due to uneven product distribution, while Western Visayas lacked the necessary infrastructures to support the industry.
