The Deputy Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, Mr. Tomohito Shimizu and staff visited the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) in Tigbauan, Iloilo and Binangonan, Rizal Philippines on 06 and 10 December 2023. The team was received by AQD Chief, Mr. Dan Baliao, Deputy Chief, Dr. Sayaka Ito, and researchers. The visit is part of the project, entitled “Sustainable Utilization of Anguillid Eels in the Southeast Asia Region” supported by the Government of Japan Trust Fund VI Phase 2. A brief presentation and discussion on the on-going and future project activities were held during the visit which highlighted the possibility of collaborating on small-scale cultivation of eels between IFRDMD and AQD.
The project team also visited the multi-species hatcheries and other facilities in both Tigbauan Main Station, in Iloilo, and Binangonan Freshwater Station (BFS) in Binangonan, Rizal. The visit aimed to see the ongoing research and development programs in various aspects of broodstock management, hatchery and breeding technology, feeding, disease management of milkfish, pompano, mangrove crab, giant freshwater prawn, anguillid eels, tilapia, seaweeds, etc.