MSUMag Leads Collaborative National Program to Enhance Saline-Tolerant Tilapia Culture Systems thru DOST-PCAARRD
As part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen the Philippines’ aquaculture industry and promote food security, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), through its Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division, conducted an Inception Meeting for the National Tilapia R&D Program: Program B – Productivity Enhancement of SPIN Tilapia Culture Systems on June 19, 2025, at Capiz State University.
This national initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Ramjie Y. Odin, Dean of the College of Fisheries at Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, who serves as the overall Program Leader and Project 1 Leader. Project 1 focuses on developing improved hatchery and grow-out systems to boost SPIN tilapia yield, enhance sustainability, and ensure cost-efficiency.
The program embodies a unified national effort, bringing together several academic institutions under a coordinated framework. Partner institutions include Capiz State University (Project 2, feeding regimen), Northern Iloilo State University (Project 3, microbial-based nursery production), Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (Project 4, accelerated acclimation and transport), and the University of the Philippines (Project 5, local probiotics). This collaborative network is driven by shared goals of aligning methodologies, identifying challenges early, refining protocols, and improving project monitoring and evaluation systems.
Beyond advancing SPIN tilapia culture technologies, the program underscores MSU-Maguindanao’s commitment to national development. As Dr. Ramjie emphasized, its success depends on collaborative implementation, shared understanding, and adaptive research—principles that underpin this nationwide effort to strengthen local food systems and improve livelihoods through sustainable aquaculture.
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Program B comprises five interconnected projects, each targeting a critical stage of saline-tolerant tilapia production. These include the development of improved hatchery and grow-out systems, advanced feeding strategies for broodstock and fingerlings, microbial innovations for nursery management, optimized acclimation and transport methods, and the discovery and application of local probiotics to enhance hatchery success. Through these integrated efforts, the program sets a national benchmark in aquaculture research and development.
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