Marinewater Fisheries Research and Development Center
The MFRDC came into existence through the Fisheries Administrative Order 029 series of 2001 and was first known as the National Center in Mariculture Research and Development, during when the transfer of BFAR National Centers into the Interim NFRDI transpired. MFRDC shares facility with BFAR-Guiuan Marine Fisheries Development Center which has
1.6 ha land and 25 ha water area with primary commodities including finfishes like grouper and milkfish, and invertebrates like blue swimming crabs, sea cucumber, scallops and spiny lobster. The Fish Health Laboratory and Environmental Monitoring Unit, Seaweed Tissue Culture, and Phycology Laboratory are some of the facilities of BFAR-GMFDC that are being shared with and utilized by NFRDI-MFRDC. Hand-in-hand, BFAR and NFRDI operate on the production of marine commodities while improving aquaculture practices by steering research and development. In 2013, the center was severely devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, rubbing out entirely the stocks of different commodities being studied and damaging the facilities that maintain them. Despite this, through the efforts of NFRDI and BFAR, the production and research activities were restored and the employees’ morale were revivified. Recently, the center has pioneered research and development activities on the hatchery of Portunus pelagicus as well as on its soft-shell production. Several technology verifications and optimizations have also been conducted on protocols for sea cucumber, bue crab and scallops. Aside from aquaculture research, MFRDC has also endeavored on capture fisheries through stock assessment and reproductive biology studies of Asian Moon and flat-ribbed scallops and spiny lobsters. These researches include the following:
1) Seed production and grow-out culture of the blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus
2) Seed production and grow-out culture of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra in Eastern Samar, Philippines (Hatchery, nursery and grow-out sub-studies)
3)Breeding and larval rearing of the Asian Moon scallop Amusium pleuronectes
4) Distribution, abundance and reproductive biology of Asian Moon scallop Amusium pleuronectes in Eastern Visayas, Philippines
5) Habitat characteristics and reproductive biology of flat-ribbed scallop Decatopecten radula
6) Assessment of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in Eastern Visayas, Philippines
These projects have been presented in different local, national and international conferences and symposia such as the:
a) Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Program – Regional Research Development and Network (VICARP RRDEN)
b) National Academy of Science and Technology Annual Scientific Meeting (NAST ASM)
c) DA BAR 31st National Research Symposium (DA-BAR NRS)
d) 12TH Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (12th AFAF)
c) 5TH Inernational Conference on Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (ICFAS)
In 2019, the Sea Cucumber Project bagged the Gold Award for Fisheries Technology Application/Verification during the 31st National Research Symposium of DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, one of the center’s biggest achievements. The blue swimming crab, Asian Moon scallop and flat-ribbed scallop projects also attained the finalist’s spot. As a research institution, the center has already published the following researches in The Philippine Journal of Fisheries:
1) Growth, development and survival of H. scabra in different microalgal regimen and water rearing media
2) First-phase juvenile rearing of H. scabra in Eastern Samar, Philippines
3) Habitat characteristics and reproductive biology of D. radula in the coastal waters of Guiuan, Philippines
4) Seed Production and Growout Culture of the Blue Swimming Crab Portunus pelagicus
5) Breeding and Larval Rearing of Asian Moon Scallop Amusium pleurunectes in Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Currently, the center is working on Aquafeed Development for Milkfish; Resource Assessment and Technology Verification on Hatchery and Nursery Rearing of Mangrove Crab; Stock Enhancement of the Blue Swimming Crab in Eastern Samar; and, Technology Promotion on Milkfish Fingerling Production in Ponds and Cages. These projects are collaborative endeavors of BFAR, SEAFDEC, DA-BAR and other NFRDI centers.
