Recently, disaster risk reduction and management was adopted by the national and local governments in the Philippines to prevent or mitigate the impacts of hazards. As a consequence, the Local Government Units of the coastal municipalities of Guimbal and Tigbauan, Iloilo Province, initiated disaster risk reduction and management activities. It is contended in this article that the condition of coastal and marine resources is fundamental in fostering community resilience to hazards, as exemplified by activities in Guimbal and Tigbauan. However, five major issues that remain to be addressed by the Local Government Units were identified through Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions. These include the overlapping roles of personnel, poor data management, weak coordination between Local Government Units and communities, lack of comprehensive plans, and a failure to understand the connection between disasters and the management of coastal and marine resources. Policy recommendations are made for amending the disaster risk reduction and management and coastal and marine resources programmes of municipalities.

The contribution of the Philippines to tilapia production in Asia has increased steadily in the past five years as it addresses hunger and poverty alleviation in the region. Commercial tilapia aquaculture in the Philippines has improved as farmers have become aware of the importance of adopting innovative husbandry technologies. These include the use of intensive culture, using novel feed ingredients, improving the quality of industrial aquafeeds, adopting cost- effective feeding strategies and efficient pond fertilization methods, and culturing improved genetic strains. A case study was conducted to: a) assess current tilapia feed management practices; b) determine recent nutrition-based innovations that include the use of alternative feed ingredients, the adoption of nutritionally complete commercial tilapia feeds, and improvements to feed management practices; and c) evaluate these factors in terms of improved production efficiencies. Thirty-two farmers from selected tilapia cage hatcheries, pond hatcheries, grow- out cages and ponds in Regions III and IV-A (known major tilapia producing regions in the Philippines) were interviewed. The issues addressed included their farm management practices, with particular focus on tilapia feed preferences; quality, procurement and storage methods; and feeding strategies. Their responses were collated and analysed in the context of information simultaneously gathered from the scientific literature, popular publications and relevant websites. The results from the case study highlight the importance of farmers being trained and remaining well-informed about recent improvements in feed technologies and the use of efficient cost-saving feeding strategies to optimize the production of seed and marketable tilapia. Recommendations on how to increase tilapia production through improved feed and feed management practices are described. Finally, recommendations for local regulatory agencies to implement aquafeed quality and nutrient standards are provided.

Fish is a vital component of food security especially in developing countries of the world. As the world population grows, the need for more food and more fish has correspondingly increased. Aquaculture, the farming and husbandry of fish and other aquatic organisms, is now a well-established industry worldwide and is the fastest growing food production sector. However, as aquaculture operations expand, the risk to the environment grows. Fish nutrition and feeding play important roles in the sustainable development of aquaculture. The efficient conversion of feed to fish is important to fish farmers because feed is the largest component of the total cost of production. Improved feed composition and better feed efficiency will result in higher fish production, lower feed cost, and low waste production hence, decreased nutrient load from fish farming.

An extension manual describing criteria for site selection, monoculture and polyculture operations including feeds and feeding, harvest, common diseases, economic analysis.

This manual provides information on the biology, morphology, natural distribution, habitat, and economic importance of 22 notable species of Macrobrachium in the Philippines.

Among the topics discussed in this 28-page manual are broodstock development and management, hatchery and nursery, health management and financial analyses of the breeding and seed production of the Asian catfish. This manual was published to disseminate science-based aquaculture technologies developed by AQD to assist catfish nursery and hatchery growers in producing high-quality fingerlings. Researchers in the field of fisheries, students and teachers could benefit from the information on the breeding and seed production of this important aquaculture commodity.

This manual will surely assist tilapia operators and technicians in producing good-quality fry and fingerlings which the industry currently needs. Fisheries researchers, teachers, and students will also find this manual as a good source of basic informarion regarding tilapia broodstock and hatchery management.