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Copyright 2014, Centre for Sustainability, Inc.
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All pictures and design by Kyra Hoevenaars and Jonah van Beijnen
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Teach him how to grow the fish sustainably and he will preserve the
fish for future generations.
Adaptation of the quotation of Lao Tzu (Chinese Taoist Philosopher 600 B.C.)
A PARADISE DISSAPEARING
The beauty and uniqueness of its nature is what characterizes the island of Palawan, also described
as “the last ecological frontier” of the Philippines. Palawan is considered internationally as a
biodiversity hotspot and an important ecological corridor in the Southeast Asia archipelago.
Nevertheless, the pressure on its coastal and marine ecosystems is increasing rapidly. Sustainable
use of the coastal natural resources is essential for the wellbeing of Palawan’s future generations.
This project proposal describes the implementation of our Grouper Livelihood Program in Palawan as
a solution to the rapid increase of pressure on the marine resources in the region by the creation of a
sustainable livelihood alternative for fishermen.
THE PROBLEM
The population in Palawan is growing at a fast rate (annual population growth rate of 3.98%
according to the last population census in 2000). Most people settle in coastal areas, and roughly
60% of the population in the coastal Barangays (the smallest administrative division in the
Philippines) are dependent on marine resources as a main source of income for their livelihood.
The increase in number of fishermen and the strong demand for fish has led to the use of
unsustainable fishing practices like cyanide fishing, overfishing and the catching of undersized fish.
These often, illegal fishing practices, destroy coral reefs. This results in a strong decrease of marine
resources since most food fishes live in and around coral reefs. Because 45 million people in the
Philippines depend on fish for their daily portion of animal protein, these fishing methods are a
threat to food security.
In Palawan, the target species of fishermen is grouper. The demand for grouper keeps increasing in
China and they fetch high prices when sold alive. In order to catch these fish live from the coral reef,
fishermen often use cyanide and since Palawan is the number one place in the Philippines where
groupers occur, a lot of cyanide is being used. Cyanide poisons the coral reef and has a big impact on
the health and productivity of coral reefs.
Beside the use of cyanide, the second problem is that an increasing number of fishermen catch
undersize grouper, which they use for grow-out purposes. This means that less and less groupers
reach maturity and hence less groupers get the opportunity to breed and multiply. This results in a
strong decline in the number of wild grouper. A solution is needed in order to stop the destruction of
coral reefs and to ensure food security.
The enormous demand for live grouper in China combined with the decreasing supply creates a huge
business opportunity. Therefore, the Centre for Sustainability has been working on the development
of a hatchery and nursery protocol for different grouper species and by now, we can proudly say that
we operate the first sustainable hatchery and nursery facility for grouper in the Philippines.
THE SOLUTION
The excellent water quality and presence of protected bays make Palawan highly suitable for
sustainable grouper mariculture. The promotion of grouper culture should only take place after the
availability of good quality fingerlings from local hatcheries, the availability of sustainable pellet
feeds, the provision of technical knowledge, health management and environmental responsibility is
assured.
Therefore, the Centre for Sustainability has been working since 2010 on the development of a
hatchery and nursery protocol for different grouper species and by now, we can proudly say that we
operate the first hatchery and nursery facility for four species of grouper in the Philippines. Two of
these species are produced on a monthly basis, the fingerlings are used for livelihood programs, and
a part is sold commercially in order for our centre to sustain its overhead.
Together with local government units in Palawan, we provide sustainable livelihood alternatives in
which we teach former (illegal) fishermen to grow grouper fingerlings in a sustainable way. We
provide them with quality fingerlings for a fair price, technology, and supervision; they must provide
the labor and enthusiasm. The participants grow the groupers in 8 to 10 months to marketable size
after which they are exported live to China via existing sales channels.
GROUPER LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM
Groupers are among the most popular species in the live fish culture industry. Tiger grouper, or
Brown Marbled Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and Green Grouper, or Orange spotted Grouper
(Epinephelus coioides) are easy to grow, no special technologies are needed, the demand is huge and
the market price is high.
These grouper fingerlings can be grown up to marketable size (500 gram) in 8 to 10 months. Grow is
done in floating sea cages. To set up a successful grouper farm the following steps have to be taken:
SITE SELECTION
During the selection of the site for the placement of the floating net cages for a grouper farm the
following aspects should be taken into account:
Protection against the waves
High water quality
Sufficient water exchange
Protection from strong weather patterns
Water depth (minimum 10 m at low tide)
Avoid presence of fresh water sources
Avoid presence potential sources of pollution
Good accessibility
Avoid presence of high ecological valued ecosystems
MATERIALS
After selecting a suitable site, floating sea cages can be constructed. The frame for the cages is made
of local materials such as drums, wood and bamboo, and is anchored at the sea floor with ropes and
concrete mooring. Cage nets that hold the fish are placed inside the frame, sinkers keep the nets in
its place. A floating hut is constructed close to the cages for packing and guarding. Depending on the
distance from the cages to the shore, a paddleboat or motor boat is needed.
FINGERLINGS
Use healthy fingerlings for optimal growth, minimising mortality and thus higher profit. High quality
hatchery bred fingerlings from the Centre for Sustainability are:
Ready to stock: nursery trained and ready for cage stocking
Strong: guaranteed disease free
Easy to feed: weaned on local pellet feeds
Sustainable: Healthy to eat, we use no antibiotics or hormones
FEEDING
Optimal feeding is one of the key factors influencing the culture of grouper. Good quality and
constant feeding activities results in strong and healthy groupers. If the groupers are not properly
fed, they will become weak and eventually die.
Pellet feeds are commercially produced feeds that have several advantages over the more commonly
used trash fish. Pellets have a longer shelf life than trash fish, less feeding preparation, no pollution
at the site and it provides a stable food quality. Pellets can only be used when fish are weaned using
pellets. The survival rate is proven to be higher when using pellet feeds and the feed conversion rate
is much lower.
Groupers must be fed twice a day; early in the morning (6-7 am) and late in the afternoon (5-6 pm).
During these periods, groupers respond best to food.
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
The biggest problem in grouper culture are viral diseases, they can cause substantial losses of the
grouper culture. It is necessary to maintain the groupers in good health by preventing and controlling
the appearance of diseases. Monitoring the condition of the fish is very important so diseases can be
detected in an early stage. Signs of diseases are appetite loss, floating on the surface, damaged skin
or fins. The health of cultured groupers depends on the following factors:
I. Quality of the fingerlings: The health status of the fingerlings is a critical factor for a
successful production cycle.
II. Clean environment: Disease outbreaks are commonly associated with environmental
deterioration. The most important environmental aspect in the grouper culture is the water
quality. Also, change the nets every 2 weeks.
III. Appropriate stocking density: The stocking density refers to the number of cultured
groupers per cubic meter. High stocking densities are harmful for the health of the groupers
because there is more competition for feeds, more waste production and more contact
between fish
IV. Effective fish handling: Minimize stress. The handling of groupers produces stress. Under
stressful conditions, fish must expend more energy to maintain their equilibrium so they will
have less energy to combat diseases.
V. Feed management: Nutritional deficiency can have an adverse impact on the immunity and
disease resistance. Feeds in bad conditions may carry potential pathogens and infections that
cause diseases.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
To have a successful grouper farm the following activities are also necessary:
I. Sorting and grading the fish: Fishes are sorted monthly, according to size. This is done to
prevent cannibalism and minimize competition for space and food. Cages should be prepared
to accommodate graded fishes.
II. Monitoring and recording: Monitor diseases, quantity, weight, and sizes of the fish,
mortality, quantity of feeding and water quality parameters.
III. Cleaning and maintenance: Changing and cleaning the nets and maintenance of the cage
frame and floating hut.
IV. Harvesting and packaging: Upon reaching 500 grams, the groupers can be harvested from
the nets and transferred in conditioning tanks to prepare for packing. Harvesting and
packaging involves a lot of fish handling and stress can be minimized when it is done in a
cautious and organized manner.
V. Administration and finances: Recording expenses and income, money handling and saving
money for maintenance, investments and emergencies.
GROUPER HATCHERY
As mentioned before, the basis of our Grouper Growout Program is the Grouper Hatchery. The
production of fingerlings (juvenile fish) needed for the program is the toughest challenge and we are
proud of our achievements.
BROOD STOCK AND EGG SUPPLY
Every hatchery starts with the supply of eggs. Therefore, we have been acquiring fish for brood stock
purposes since 2009. We now have one of the finest collections of brood stock in Southeast Asia. We
have been able to collect brood stock of Giant grouper, Malabar grouper, Tiger Grouper, Mouse
Grouper and Green grouper.
It is important to note that all groupers are born as female and since groupers grow relatively slow, it
takes many years to reach maturity. Only old females become males and thus it takes several years
to build up a good group of brood stock.
EGG INCUBATION
Once the fish have spawned their eggs in our sea cages or in one of our brood stock tanks, the
fertilized eggs are harvested and transferred to our land based facilities for incubation. We stock the
eggs in conical egg incubators with an up-flow current.
LARVICULTURE
After the eggs hatch, small grouper larvae appear. These larvae are simplified fish which are very
sensitive and who have unique feeding requirements (tiny live feeds only). Live feeding is the most
difficult part of the larviculture and that is why we have developed a special live feed section in which
different species of zooplankton and algae are reproduced. The larval stage of the groupers takes
around 50 days. After this, the fish metamorphose into real fish and this is when they are moved to
our nursery.
NURSERY SYSTEM
The nursery facility, which is located close to the hatchery, contains 10 concrete nursery tanks, with a
capacity of 15,000 fingerlings. The smaller nursery tanks (make it easier to monitor and grade the
fish. During this stage, we wean the fingerlings to sustainable pellet feeds.
SUSTAINABILITY
The project applies efficient production activities to ensure the maintenance of a healthy coastal
ecosystem:
Seaweed biofilters are installed around our sea cages and we make use of a recirculation
system at our hatchery and nursery.
No antibiotics or hormones are being used for grow out purposes.
We only make use of local grouper species so we do not introduce new species.
We use efficient pellet feeds (partly made of agricultural wastes) instead of trash fish
FACILITIES
Our facilities are located in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Puerto Princesa City, which is 30-minute car ride
distance from the city proper. In this barangay, we lease a total of 170 hectares of land and sea from
the City government of Puerto Princesa for a period of 25 years through a Joint Venture Agreement
with the City Government of Puerto Princesa.
We have been able to transform the 124 hectare forested area of Sta. Lucia into a great complex.
This complex contains our main office, a hatchery (120 ton capacity) and nursery (20 ton capacity) for
marine fin-fishes, several reservoirs (20 and 25 ton respectively), brood stock tanks (3 tanks of 20
ton) a pumping system with several biological filtering units and a live food section in which we
produce algae, rotifer, artemia and oysters larvae. The facility is connected to the main electricity
grid and has its own 35 kVA backup generator set. A stable internet connection is provided through a
private satellite uplink.
Furthermore, we have transformed the 46-hectare coastal area into a well-protected private marine
reserve with over two hectares of corals remaining and several hectares of decades old mangrove
forest. In total 40 units of 4 by 4 meter, HDP floating cages for fish production and research have
been installed. The cages are used to maintain our unique collection brood stock containing five
different grouper species.
CURRENT STATUS
We have established a full operating hatchery for high value marine species. We have
constructed this hatchery on land leased (25 years contract) from the City Government of
Puerto Princesa.
We have conducted five years of research to develop the technology (for four species) in
order to produce grouper fingerlings and have recently started commercial production for 2
species.
We have conducted shipments to Manila as well as Hong Kong for both fingerlings and
marketable size groupers.
We have an extensive list of clients willing to buy different species of fingerlings all over the
Philippines. We have started commercial sales in August 2012.
All our livelihood participants and customers have experienced good survival and growth-
rate.
PARTNERS
Our partners include The City Government of Puerto Princesa, Startlife Foundation, Katala
Foundation, Palawan State University, Western Philippines University, Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (Philippines), Wageningen University, Department of Agriculture (Philippines), The
Transpetrol Foundation, The Otter Foudation, Triodos Bank, the Philippine Coastguard and the
Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary.
CONTACT
Kyra Hoevenaars
Centre for Sustainability
Bgy Sta. Lucia
Puerto Princesa City
Palawan 5300
Philippines
Tel: +63 (0) 9275739521
Email: Kyra@centreforsustainability.org
www.centreforsustainability.org
APPENDIX: PHOTO OVERVIEW LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM