BFARs Clarin fresh fish farm 

Now spawns catfish naturally 

CORTES, Bohol, Aug 22 (PIA)—After two trials, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is now poised to officially declare its success in spawning catfish (𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴) through natural methods. 

Spawning catfish "naturally" is a better method of breeding this species since the male stocks are not sacrificed during the breeding process, shared Ma. Rocile Angela Josol, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) facility Information Officer of the Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm (CFFF) recently. 

In order to maintain its pool of brood stocks, the CFFF had been conducting trials on natural breeding of catfish, locally known as "hito" or "pantat," and may have succeeded this time. 

The information comes as a good news to Boholano farmers who introduce freshwater fish in their rice paddies to double the income and restock the headwaters with fish. 

Some people do like catfish, but the freshwater fish with whiskers, is not easily available in the market. 

And if they are, people also ask many questions relative to where the fish was harvested from. 

Well, until Bohol’s leading government operated fish hatchery decided to make catfish worth their hatchery tubs. 

But then again, propagating catfish in captivity proved to be a great poser. 

Stretched to the limits, hatchery authorities at BFAR’s Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm (CFFF) has to do the artificial breeding to milk out fingerlings from the adults that refuse to spawn while in captivity. 

As with other catfish hatcheries, CFFF used to inject the male to stir up the body and mature the milt, and gravid female catfish with hormones for it to release the eggs. 

“Presently, catfish fry production in most hatcheries in the country are produced through artificial propagation,” Josol said. 

After a few hours of rest, the gravid female is captured and induced to release its eggs by stripping or gently pressing on the stomach to facilitate the release of the eggs. 

The eggs are then collected in a container for weighing to get a general idea of the number of fry which can be produced from the egg. 

Then the male catfish is captured and killed to harvest the milt sac which is in the belly of the fish. 

This then is cut into tiny pieces to release the sperm, added with a saline solution to keep the sperm alive but inactive. 

This milt and saline solution is poured into the stripped eggs and mixed thoroughly for about a minute. Then using the same amount of clean freshwater with the saline solution, pour it to the milt and eggs. 

This facilitates the fertilization process. 

While the hatchery is assured of new fingerlings that can be grown to juveniles for the governments fresh fish restocking program in dispersals to rivers, streams and creeks, in its Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) the downside is that males are sacrificed, and very few females can survive the ordeal. 

Mario Ruinata, BFAR 7 - Operating Facilities Coordinator, said the technical team has to resort to natural breeding than the "tricky and difficult" process of artificial breeding. 

He said in artificial method, both female and male catfish breeders have low chances of survival. 

He said the females are injected with dosages of certain hormones to induce maturation and ovulation while for the male, sperm can only be obtained by sacrificing it. 

In a separate statement, CFFF head Gaymelo Lopez said the team saw some progress on the natural production of catfish, and apparently succeeded following two trials. 

Lopez said the first trial in July produced over 9,900 catfish fingerlings. 

"This month (August), on the succeeding trial, the number of breeders have been increased and production of fingerlings went to more than 16,560," he added. 

Lopez said more trials will be conducted in order to achieve better hatching rate from egg to fry and higher survivorship from fry to fingerlings. 

As a way forward, grow out trials will be conducted. 

Also, Ruinata said this species will be used as aquaponics fish because its culture does not require large areas. 

"It can thrive in hard conditions, less labor intensive and it’s not easily susceptible to diseases," he said further. 

To note, catfish is actually one of the emerging and potential commodities in the region, Ruinata said. (rahchiu/PIA Bohol with Ma. Rocil Angela Josol) 

MONSTROUS POTENTIAL. With catfish now successfully spawned naturally, fresh fish farmers can get ample supply of fingerlings to restock their local fish stocks in the wild. Although not the same as the species which can grow into monster sizes, the native catfish can in fact grow huge given deep waters that can provide them with food and sanctuary. (PIABohol/riverfriends.org) 

BREAKTHOUGH. As fish hatcheries across the world rely on artificial spawning of catfish (pantat) to restock their broods, Clarion Freshwater Fish Farm has somehow succeeded in breeding the whiskered fish naturally, and does not anymore need to kill the male to harvest its testes. (BFAR-7)