Impacts of Climate Change on Economic Performance of Tilapia Pond Operations in Minalin, Pampanga: A Case of Intensive Large-Scale Pond Culture

Pampanga is the top tilapia-producing province in Philippines. One of its municipalities, Minalin, is considered as one of its major centers of production. This study aims to determine the impacts of climate change hazards on the economic performance of tilapia-intensive pond culture in Minalin, Pampanga considering the threats to the industry, livelihoods, and food security. Results revealed that the economic performance of tilapia pond operations using semi-intensive large-scale culture was affected by climate change, as reflected in the reduction of yield among tilapia pond operators. This makes intensive tilapia pond farming in Minalin still a viable venture but will now require more than a year to pay for investment (variable and fixed) costs if under climate change risks. The study recommends strengthening capacity building related to climate-smart tilapia farming technologies for pond operators and to implement appropriate technologies to address climate change risks.

Pond Substrate Type Affects Yellow Perch Fingerling Size at Harvest

Fish size and harvest density generally exhibit a negative relationship in pond culture, but the influence that pond substrate type can have on this relationship is not well understood. To evaluate the influence of pond substrate type on yellow perch (Perca flavescens), harvest density (number/hectare) was linearly regressed against individual fingerling size (grams) for lined (n = 48) and earthen (n = 40) substrate ponds that were treated similarly in terms of organic fertilizer use and the number of days in the pond over 12 culture seasons at Blue Dog Lake State Hatchery, South Dakota, USA. Harvest density explained 45 and 39% of the variation in yellow perch size in lined and earthen-substrate ponds (all P < 0.01). Comparison of regression lines indicated that fingerling size decreased as harvest density increased at a similar rate in both pond types (slope comparison, P = 0.62);however, fingerling size was significantly larger in lined ponds regardless of density that varied from near 0 to 700,000 per hectare (y-intercept comparison, P < 0.01). At the same harvest density, lined ponds will tend to produce larger yellow perch fingerlings compared to earthen ponds when similar organic fertilizers are used.

Filamentous Green Algae Reduce Walleye Fingerling Production in Earthen-Substrate Ponds

Reduced walleye (Sander vitreus) fingerling production possibly related to nuisance filamentous green algae and overly stable water chemistry patterns is a concern in earthen-substrate ponds at Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, South Dakota, USA. We describe the success of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) meal (AFM, n = 2), alfalfa meal plus soybean (Glycine max) meal (AFM + SBM, n = 1), and alfalfa meal plus liquid 28N:0P:0K (AFM + 28:0:0, n = 1) at achieving walleye production objectives (>104,000 walleye and 32 kilograms/hectare) as well as the occurrence of filamentous green algae and the associated patterns of ammonia-nitrogen, pH, and dissolved oxygen in earthen-substrate ponds. Walleye production objectives were only achieved when filamentous green algae were absent preceding harvest, which occurred in one pond that received AFM and in the pond that received AFM + 28:0:0. The presence of filamentous green algae preceding harvest was associated with higher dissolved oxygen and pH, whereas declines in these variables occurred when filamentous green algae were absent. Organic fertilizer alone exhibited low ammonia-nitrogen (<0.1 mg/L) despite the substitution of higher protein content soybean meal, but supplementation with 28:0:0 increased ammonia-nitrogen to 0.23 mg/L. These findings highlight the reduction in walleye fingerling production that occurred in the presence of filamentous green algae and the unpredictability of results when two earthen-substrate ponds are treated exactly the same with alfalfa meal. Achievement of walleye production objectives, lack of nuisance filamentous green algae, and promotion of favorable patterns in water chemistry warrant future experimentation with alfalfa meal supplemented with 28:0:0 in earthen-substrate ponds at this hatchery.