Cage Culture of Grouper (Lapu-lapu) Part 1
Summary
TLDRChristopher Conas, originally from Texas, shares his experience with grouper culture in the Philippines. After moving there in 2007, he was inspired by local fish farming practices. He highlights the value of species like tiger and green grouper, and discusses the benefits of Mariculture Parks for foreign investors. Conas emphasizes the importance of proper training, patience, and suitable conditions for successful grouper farming. He also mentions the crucial role of reliable hatchery support and careful acclimation of fingerlings to ensure healthy stock and consistent production.
Takeaways
- đ Christopher Conas, originally from Texas, USA, now lives in the Philippines and is involved in grouper fish culture.
- đ The Philippines is home to high-value grouper species like the Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Tiger Grouper) and Epinephelus coioides (Green Grouper), making it a suitable location for grouper aquaculture.
- đŒ Christopher started exploring the fishing industry in the Philippines after observing the affordable capital implements needed for fish production during a visit to a BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) station.
- đïž Mariculture Parks in the Philippines, such as the one in Guiuan, offer convenient investment opportunities for foreigners due to their surveyed and protected water quality.
- đ Although the location offers some protection from harsh weather, the farm experienced minimal damage from recent typhoons, with slight stock loss.
- đȘž For successful grouper culture, itâs important to have a water depth of at least 5 to 6 meters, as groupers settle at the bottom and require enough vertical space for growth.
- đ Christopher uses a specialized cage design for grouper farming to separate them by size and prevent cannibalism, with grading done once a week.
- đšâđ« He emphasizes that patience and proper training are essential for successful grouper farming, as they require different techniques compared to other species like bangus or pompano.
- đą Hatchery support is crucial for a consistent production cycle, and Christopherâs farm now has a steady supply of fingerlings from Kingdom Prize Seafood, eliminating previous supply issues.
- đŠ The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recommends a stocking density of 20 pieces per cubic meter to maintain adequate oxygen levels and prevent issues like parasite and bacterial infections.
Q & A
What species of grouper are mentioned in the video?
-The species of grouper mentioned are Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (tiger grouper) and Epinephelus coioides (green grouper).
Why is the speaker interested in culturing grouper in the Philippines?
-The speaker is interested in culturing grouper because they are high-value species in the Philippines and present good business opportunities for expanding mariculture.
What challenges did the speaker face when starting grouper culture in the Philippines?
-One of the main challenges was finding a reliable supplier for hatchery-bred stock. Initially, there were inconsistencies in supply, but this issue was resolved after connecting with a consistent supplier, Kingdom Prize Seafood.
What is important about the site selection for grouper culture?
-Site selection is crucial, particularly the depth of the water. For grouper culture, the ideal water depth is around 5-6 meters to provide enough vertical space for dense stocking and to accommodate the grouper's tendency to settle at the bottom.
How does the speaker's cage design differ from traditional cages?
-The speaker's cage is specifically designed for grouper, with individual enclosures (3m x 3m) to separate fish by size, which helps control cannibalism and ensures even growth rates.
What are some key factors for ensuring the successful culture of grouper?
-Key factors include site selection, stocking density, proper grading by size to prevent cannibalism, and attention to water quality, including dissolved oxygen levels. Consistent hatchery support is also critical.
What training did the speaker receive to improve grouper culture?
-The speaker received training at the SEAFDEC finfish hatchery, which provided technical knowledge on grouper culture and continues to offer support when needed.
What advice does the speaker offer to those starting grouper culture?
-The speaker emphasizes patience and careful attention to the fish. Grouper require a different approach compared to other species, and it is important to use specific techniques for their culture rather than general methods for other species like bangus or pompano.
What is the recommended stocking density for grouper cages?
-The recommended stocking density is 20 fish per cubic meter, as this ensures adequate dissolved oxygen levels and helps maintain fish health.
How does the speaker manage the transportation of grouper fingerlings from the hatchery?
-The speaker ensures that fingerlings are acclimated to the water temperature and salinity at the site by gradually mixing the ocean water with the water in the transport bags. This helps minimize stress on the fish during transport.
Outlines
đ Introduction and Background of the Speaker
Christopher Conas, originally from San Antonio, Texas, shares his experience living in the Philippines. He discusses his journey of discovering the potential of grouper fish farming, particularly with the species Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Tiger Grouper) and Epinephelus coioides (Green Grouper), both of which are highly valued in the Philippines. His decision to stay in the country led him to explore opportunities in the fishing industry, particularly after an inspiring visit to a BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) station in the Kigan Islands.
đïž Establishing in the Philippines: Overcoming Initial Challenges
Christopher recounts his early days in the Philippines, exploring the country and reflecting on how he became involved in the fishing industry. He expresses gratitude for the support provided by BFAR, especially through a key figure, Mr. Buhos from Region 7. The discussion highlights how BFAR's establishment of mariculture parks across the Philippines, including the one in Hai, provides a unique opportunity for foreign investors. These parks are strategically surveyed for water quality and offer natural protections from extreme weather, such as typhoons. Despite the challenges of operating in such an environment, including typhoon-related stock losses, Christopher shares how their grouper cages have withstood these events.
đ Ideal Conditions for Grouper Farming
Christopher discusses the optimal conditions required for farming groupers, particularly focusing on the importance of water depth, which should ideally be around 5-6 meters to ensure adequate vertical space for stocking the fish. He mentions the specific design of their cages, which are tailored to the needs of groupers, such as the ability to separate fish by size to prevent cannibalism. Weekly grading is essential to maintain healthy stock and minimize cannibalism. He emphasizes the need for patience and proper training in grouper culture, noting that traditional methods used for other fish species may not be applicable.
đ The Importance of Patience and Proper Training
Christopher highlights the significance of patience and dedication in grouper farming, explaining that the success of the fish relies on the care and attention they receive. He shares his own experience in receiving training at SEAFDEC's finfish hatchery and how their guidance continues to support his work. He stresses that grouper farming requires a different approach compared to other fish species and that proper training is critical. Christopher notes that the fish thrive in the natural environment of the Philippines, where the species are already well-adapted, ensuring successful growth with the right management.
đĄ Overcoming Early Hatchery Supply Issues
One of the early challenges Christopher faced was securing a consistent supply of hatchery-bred grouper fingerlings. This problem was solved after meeting Jojo Sapalo, the owner of Kingdom Prize Seafood, who now supplies all their fingerlings. He stresses the importance of acquiring stock that is tested for viral diseases like Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) and describes the importance of checking the health of the fish upon arrival, ensuring they swim well and are not suffering from swim bladder issues due to transport stress. Proper acclimation to water temperature and salinity is also crucial to reduce stress on the fingerlings.
đ Best Practices for Hatchery Stock Management and Transportation
Christopher provides detailed insights into the process of receiving and managing hatchery stock. He describes how fingerlings are acclimated to local water conditions upon arrival to minimize shock. Regular supply from the hatchery allows him to predict production cycles, ensuring a steady flow of fish to meet market demand. Transport times are kept short, ideally under 6 hours, to avoid excessive mortality due to stress and lack of dissolved oxygen. He also explains the recommended stocking density, which helps maintain a healthy environment for the fish, preventing issues like oxygen depletion and disease outbreaks.
đŹ Maintaining Stocking Density and Health of the Fish
Christopher concludes by emphasizing the importance of adhering to recommended stocking densities, typically 20 pieces per cubic meter. Overcrowding can lead to oxygen depletion, slower growth, and increased risk of disease and parasites. Following BFAR and SEAFDEC guidelines ensures the health of the fish and the sustainability of the operation. By maintaining proper conditions, farmers can achieve consistent, high-quality production of groupers, safeguarding both the well-being of the fish and the profitability of the business.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄGrouper Culture
đĄEpinephelus fuscoguttatus
đĄMariculture Park
đĄStocking Density
đĄHatchery Support
đĄBFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)
đĄSalinity Acclimation
đĄCannibalism
đĄViral Nervous Necrosis (VNN)
đĄTyphoon Protection
Highlights
Christopher Conas shares his experience with grouper culture in the Philippines.
The Philippines has valuable species of grouper, such as the tiger grouper (Epilis Fusco gatus) and green grouper (Epilis cotis).
Christopher moved to the Philippines in October 2007 and developed an interest in the fishing industry.
He was inspired by visiting a BF station in Kigan Island, noting that the capital required for fish farming was low-cost.
BF's Mariculture Parks offer a unique opportunity for foreign investors to fully own businesses without a national partnership.
Grouper farming requires specific site conditions, such as a water depth of around 5-6 meters to ensure optimal growth.
Grouper enclosures need to be designed for size grading to prevent cannibalism, with grading done weekly.
Grouper culture differs from traditional methods used for other species like bangus or pompano due to the unique behavior of the fish.
Christopher received his training from the finfish hatchery at SEAFDEC, which provided technical advice.
One of the major challenges faced early on was finding a reliable source for hatchery-bred grouper stock.
JoJo Sapalo, from Kingdom Prize Seafood, became a reliable supplier of fingerlings, solving the stock issue.
Transporting hatchery stock requires acclimating the fish to water temperature and salinity to minimize shock.
Hatchery-bred fingerlings, around 1-2 inches, are suitable for ocean cages after proper acclimatization.
Maintaining a stocking density of 20 fish per cubic meter helps ensure proper oxygen levels and healthy growth.
Christopher emphasizes the importance of patience and attention to detail in grouper culture for successful results.
Transcripts
[Music]
uh good morning everyone in the
Philippines I'm Christopher conas um I
was born in San Antonio Texas in the USA
and I live here now so you know I'm glad
to be here uh today I want to share with
you my experience with with my grouper
culture um we have a few species of of
grouper here we have uh the epilis Fusco
gatus which is the tiger grouper and we
also have the epilis cotis which is the
green grouper um both are pretty high
value species here in the Philippines
and that's why we're interested in
culturing them and expanding the culture
of those things well I I I came to the
Philippines first in October of 2007 oh
I really enjoyed being here enjoyed the
the the ocean I enjoyed being on the
beaches and all of that um but when I
really considered when when I was
wanting to stay here and live here uh I
needed to figure out what is that I
could do to earn a living here um I
traveled in in in and around the country
and in the big cities but what what
really got my attention was when I uh
when I was with with uh a friend of mine
vacationing in kigan island and we ran
across a BF station there and the people
were so warm and and friendly that you
know they invited me to to observe what
they were doing there so really I I
noticed that all the capital implements
for producing fish were really of low
cost so you know I started to consider
uh my own future in in the fishing
industry um I really have have to thank
the BF for that especially Mr buhos in
in in region 7 um he's he's been really
uh patient with us and he's he's really
helped us everywhere along the way and
um I have lots to thank for from the BF
for this uh you know this this project
here this Mar culture Park um is well
suited for for foreign investors um it's
really uh the the the few places within
the Philippines that a foreigner can can
own fully his business without a a a
partnership with a with a with a
national so the the the BF has laid out
throughout the country uh these Mar
culture Parks um the one that that we're
in now is in High um the sites
conveniently for the investors have been
already surveyed for the the quality of
the water um this one in particular it
sits in a in a bay so we're protected um
from big waves and big water all the the
the the detrimental weather um we're not
100% protected from it but uh we do have
some protection here which is more than
some other places uh that they're
culturing uh fish uh We've we've
actually had two two two typhoons that
uh we recently encountered here and you
know if you can see the cage is still
standing there's there was no real
damage uh we experienced some loss with
our stock but you know that's that's to
be expected with with the extreme
weather um what you're looking for in a
site uh especially when you're when
you're going to culture grouper um the
depth of the water is is is really uh is
Keen um you can culture other species in
shallower water uh the grouper tend to
settle on the very bottom so you know
somewhere about 5 m is probably ideal 5
or 6 M uh that gives you enough vertical
space so that you can stock pretty
densely uh your grouper in your cage um
the cage that I have is a little bit
different uh it's it's it's specifically
designed for for
grouper
um some fish you can grow in in in a
single
enclosure uh with the grouper you need
to actually be able to to separate them
by sizing grading them and we do that
once a week uh just to ensure that
there's uh no cannibalism or the
cannibalism is controlled um if you can
I guess notice behind me there's there's
small U 3x3 my M are 3 m by 3 m per
enclosure and uh the reason that's
important is that the the the actual
stock is going to grow at a different
rate uh that way there's enough room
within the the cage itself uh to
separate the size of stock into wherever
wherever they fit um I'm gonna have to
say you know if you're able to put in
the time and and and do your due
diligence with with this grouper you can
be successful with it um I think where a
lot of people come into difficulties is
that um they really haven't been trained
uh to to to culture grouper uh they try
to use the traditional methods for
bangas or uh pompo or other species that
are that are being cultured but uh our
animal it just behaves a little bit
differently um I received my training at
the sea dick uh in the finfish Hatchery
and you know we certainly are are happy
to be involved with them and they they
from time to time give us technical
advice and they're there to help us
whenever we need it um but uh the the
biggest thing is that you you must take
you must be patient with with the with
the stock um you know it's it's
something that you have to give your
love to it's something that you have to
give your attention to fully um but if
you're if you're patient you know the
the the the fish will respond to to your
patience and your love they grow well in
this environment you know this is their
natural habitat so it's not like we're
taking a foreign species and try to make
them grow here they they they naturally
occur you can you know pick them out of
the ocean wherever wherever you are here
especially here here in kih high we have
green grouper and tiger grouper and they
actually have a the Dusky tail grouper
I've seen I've seen all three of those
species here so you know our our fish
love love this environment um we're not
having any problems with uh with
temperature salinity here you know
they're they're well adapted to this
environment they're suited for this
environment well the one of the biggest
problems or the hurdles that we had to
overcome um when I was first beginning
was was to be able to get Hatchery bread
stock
um thankfully you know uh I encountered
or are met along my way JoJo sapalo he's
uh he's the owner of uh Kingdom priz
Seafood he supplies all of our
fingerlings now which you know before it
was it was a problem where one month I I
would find that the supplier had had
stock and then two or three months would
go by and there'd be no stock so you
know once we once we met uh Mr Jojo at
Kingdom prize we no longer have that
problem um well when you get them from
the Hatchery um they should they should
be test for vnn which is a viral neuron
necrosis um they should have you know
when whenever you receive any stock um
you should look that they're schooling
well that they swim together well that
they're not floating upside down um
their swim bladder sometimes get damaged
in the transport there's heat stress
there's lots of things that that can H
happen in transport um the Hatchery you
know all of our species that we're
culturing we we we need to have Hatchery
support so that we can have a consistent
production uh either monthly or yearly
or whatever your cycle is going to be
um the the the ones that come from the
Hatchery usually are um you know you can
buy 1 in or 2 in and those are big
enough to go right into the ocean uh at
at 2 in they're strong enough even
though some people don't like to take
grouper that small um it does take a
little bit more care to get them to be
uh 150 g um
when we when we get ours from the
Hatchery what we have to do is we we
uh get them acclimated to the to the
water temperature we get them acclimated
to the salinity specific to our site uh
you know when when you receive the stock
in your bags um really the first thing
you should do is get them directly into
the water with the bag sealed so that
the temperature of the ocean matches the
temperature inside the bag that's going
to eliminate some of the some of the
shock that they're going to be
experiencing and then slowly slowly
slowly you have to integrate the ocean
water with what what the the water is
inside the bag so that the salinity
becomes even and then they're not
stressed with that as well um once we
once we you know once you have a a good
Hatchery supplier you should be able to
to supply your cages or your one cage
whatever it is on a regular basis that
way you can predict your cycle um for me
that's that's really important to know
how much I'm going to be harvesting so
that way I can Target my customer by
volume um if you were lucky and had a
very large production you know you you
definitely need haty support um uh it
depends on the size uh the smaller the
size of the fish the more you can put
per bag but generally uh with about a
1in fingerling you're probably looking
at about uh 150 pieces inside of a
cellophane bag uh the transport time
usually is I don't know it's under 12
hours for sure
uh we like to keep it under 5 or 6 hours
total transport between when they
collect them from the Hatchery to when
we actually put them in the water that
way you know we're not experiencing uh
undue mortality for the the lack of
dissolved
oxygen so what what what the BF
recommends for the standard stocking
density is 20 pieces per cubic met um we
like that stocking density that density
is going to ensure that there's enough
dissolved oxygen in our in our cage that
way that some some of our stock is not
going to grow at a different rate for
lack of oxygen uh you will get that if
you try to stock them uh beyond the the
recommended density there's there's lots
of parasites that can occur lots of
bacteria that can occur with the uh you
know when you try to push the stocking
density beyond the the limit of your
animal so you know we we we definitely
stick to the recommendations from the BF
and the seif dick because it maintains
the quality of of our fish it maintains
the health of our fish and it it ensures
our production
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