BFAR-7 restocks Loboc river

With 62K enhanced tilapia 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 8 (PIA)—What environmental activists would call as an introduction of genetically engineered or genetically modified tilapia in Loboc River, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bohol official says it is a restocking by genetically enhanced fish developed after series of breeding selections. 

Speaking during the Kapihan sa PIA on celebrating Month of the Ocean (#MOO2020) in times of coronavirus pandemic, BFAR Bohol Fishery Officer Candido Samijon explained that by restocking, it means Loboc River has already stocks of native tilapia. 

He said acting on the request from the Municipal Government of Loboc, Bohol, BFAR, who came to know that most town residents are engaged in tourism activities, but the COVID lowdown has suspended operations, prompting more residents to go to the river for food. 

While the river has also other fish varieties especially those that thrive in the brackish water, there have been tilapias among the daily catch. 

Samijon did not think this strange knowing that tilapia has been in Loboc river since then, and those that escape the fish cages found in the upper river tributaries could also add up to the fish stocks downriver. 

Native tilapia are usually smaller in size, reproduces slower and has that distinct fishy smell, he shared. 

What BFAR did was to restock the river with 62,000 tilapia fingerlings of a better breed. 

By better breed, BFRA used tilapia species which Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm, one of BFAR’s Field facilities in Bohol. 

According to Samijon, their Clarin facility breeds tilapia from selecting better breeds with better meat, easier to farm and losing certain characteristics like the fishy tilapia smell. 

This genetically enhanced tilapia (GET) is among Clarin facility’s the main “products.” 

Selective breeding has also happened in chicken, in several plants and animals, all of these done through a process galled genetic enhancement, not by chemicals but altering some characteristics to better suit the needs of communities. 

Last April 21, BFAR-7 Regional Director Dr. Allan Poquita, who also happens to be from Clarin and was in Bohol since the Enhanced Community Quarantine, along with Samijon and Bohol BFAR transported the genetically enhanced tilapia fingerlings to Loboc, where Mayor Leon Calipusan and town officials await. 

Form the Loboc Tourism Center, the group along with BFARs fingerlings cruised to the upper reaches of Loboc river, where the fingerlings were to be released. 

The BFAR action generated support as well as criticism, citing the fear of invasion among local species, knowing that tilapia can be invasive. 

Over this, Samijon assured that the genetically enhanced tilapia is still freshwater tilapia and would have the tendency to stay in the upper reaches of the river because the fish can not tolerate salty water. 

If there are tilapia that would go down to the brackish water, another study has shown that salt water affects tilapia reproduction, Samijon told listeners. 

With BFAR supporting the government’s food security program, unlike its agriculture family which distributes seeds, the bureau turns over stock fingerlings to several fishery-managed areas in the region. 

On this, BFAR-7 expressed hope that this intervention will help augment the livelihood of the residents as well as increase fish supply in the area. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol) 

TOURISM WORKERS TURN TO FISHING. BFAR Regional Director Dr. Allan Poquita Poquita helped transport the tilapia fingerlings to the rivercruise boats that will ferry them to the upper reaches of Loboc River where they will disperse 62,000 tilapia fingerlings. LGU Loboc requested the restocking of the river to help residents get food now that COVID has stopped tourism activities. (rahchiu/PIA-7/foto by BFAR7) 

GET RESTOCKING. BFAR Bohol Fishery Officer Candido Samijon explained that the tilapia seeding in Loboc is as requested by the LGU who also know that tilapia has been in the river here. The tilapia fingerlings seeded and bred at the Clarin BFAR facility in Bohol is only by selective breeding, not genetically modified by chemical or introduction of foreign genes to produce a desired effect. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)