Marine Fish Cage Farming - a Sunrise Industry
Throughout the past centuries, man sourced its animal protein through hunting or fishing. And in many parts of the world, the main source of animal protein for humans is finfish. However, with fish catch getting smaller from marine waters because of dramatic decline of natural fish stocks caused by increased in fishing pressure and the increase in fish consumption by ever swelling population, especially as the more affluent consumers in the developed countries become more aware of the beneficial effects of fish to one’s health (marine fish is the excellent source of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids). It is expected that the demand for fish will continue to increase and the only alternative is to farm this sea creature in captivity, i.e. engaging in all aspects of aquaculture activities (from broodstock rearing, hatchery, nursery and grow-out farming).
Turning around the aforementioned problem as an opportunity, the government through its technical agency, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) created a mariculture development program and initially selected suitable sites for 16 Mariculture Parks in 2006. At the present time, there are 36 mariculture parks established in almost all regions of the country. Mariculture parks are seaside equivalent of industrial estates. The aim of the program is to:
1) Promote mariculture as a major livelihood program for coastal fisherfolks,
2) Develop large-scale privately operated cage culture project; and
3) Provide appropriate infrastructure and equipment and favorable investment climate for efficient cage culture operations.
Growing fish in cages especially mariculture in protected or open coastal waters is the cheapest and demonstrate more economic advantages. By definition, Cage Culture” is an aquaculture production system made of a floating frame, net materials & mooring system (with synthetic mooring rope, buoy, and anchor) as a round or square shape floating net pen to hold and culture large number of fishes and can be installed in reservoir, river, lake or sea. The design of the cage and its accessories can be tailor-made in accordance to the individual fish farmers’ requirements. HDPE float frames installed in open unprotected water can withstand waves as high as 6 meters. Round net cages having a culture volume of 1,000 to 1,300 cubic meters with floatation system made of butt-welded HDPE pipes are designed for the culture of pelagic swimming fish such as milkfish, mullet, cobia or Canadian sergeant fish, and yellow-wax pompano. While square cages with measurement ranging from 3m x 3m x 3m to 5m x 5m x 3m accommodates the more lethargic species such as groupers, snappers, siganids, and sea bass. Ultra violet resistant HDPE pipes as floatation material has a life span of 10 years compared to steel pipes which last up to 5 years only and bamboo poles for 1-1/z to 2 years. The net cages have an average life span of 3 years.
In so far as marketing this high value marine species is concern, the main target of the mariculture highway our government is building up right now is directed towards China. Each year about 30,000 to 35,000 metric tons of live reef fish are imported into Hong Kong with a total wholesale value of US$ 490 million. Of this volume, 55 to 60 per cent of the imported live reef fish is re-exported to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). It was first exported to the Shenzhen Economic Zone close by Hong Kong, and subsequently to Beijing, Shanghai and other large cities in Peoples Republic of China. About 50 per cent of live reef fish are imported from Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Maldives, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. Imports from Indonesia began in 1988 from Indonesian Chinese traders. Suppliers from Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam rely heavily on air transportation of which 80 per cent of the catches from these countries are sent to Hong Kong by air. While in less accessible areas like in the Pacific, large live fish carrier boats are used.
