AQD gains collaborators in China, Malaysia and the Philippines

SEAFDEC/AQD and the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (FFRC/CAFS) extended their partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding which will take effect for another next two years.

AQD Chief Dr. Joebert Toledo and FFRC/CAFS Principal Researcher Dr. Xu Pao signed the agreement last 14 May 2009 in Xiamen, China during the NACA Governing Council Meeting. The pact calls for both parties to conduct research studies on feed development and disease control, genetic breeding of prawn and tilapia, water environment for aquaculture activities, and socioeconomics. Moreover, details on training activities and visit exchanges of staff from AQD and FFRC/CAFS are also contained in the agreement. AQD's Dr. Edgar Amar, Ms. Didi Baticados and Ms. Gwen Anuevo will be having exploratory talks with staff from FFRC/CAFS in Wuxi, China from 5-13 June .

Earlier on 31 March, Dr. JD Toledo signed a two-year agreement with Bari Aquatech Sdn Bhd, a business company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AQD is to provide technical assistance to a proposed collaborative project on Innovation of the farming technology of tropical abalone (Haliotis asinina) for commercial application in Malaysia. Specifically, AQD will assist Bari Aquatech in implementing research studies to improve spawning & larval rearing, feed formulation, and enhance growth; in drafting & preparing reports and manuals; in establishing & operating a pilot abalone farm; and in training Bari staff. Bari, on the other hand, will provide logistics and shoulder AQD’s expenses during the conduct of feasibility studies, as well as pay for the training.

For the Philippines, AQD signed an agreement on 5 March with the owner-cooperator of a freshwater reservoir in Dingle, Iloilo, Philippines for a project on verification / production trials on netcage culture of seabass and hybrid tilapia using SEAFDEC and commercial feeds. Like most agreements with the private sector, AQD will provide full technical backstopping while the cooperator allows access and use of his facility, which is for about 9 months. To date, fixed netcages have been fabricated, a caretaker’s hut constructed, a series of fine mesh nylon screen installed to increase the surface area for natural food organisms, and black hybrid SEAFDEC strain tilapia fingerlings from the AQD hatchery were stocked on 10 March at 15 fish per cu meter or 937 fish per netcage. Feeding with recommended rates of SEADEC formulated diet and a commercial feed is ongoing and being done in three replicates.