While extreme heat and below-normal rainfall prevail over the El Niño phenomenon, the Southeast Asian Fisheries and Development Center (Seafdec) Aquaculture Department (AQD) says these environmental changes also present an opportunity for aquaculture, particularly in milkfish production. Seafdec-AQD chief Dan Baliao recognized that despite fish farmers relying on freshwater species, such as tilapia and catfish, will be especially challenged by El Niño, those farming brackish and marine species like milkfish, pompano, among others, may seize the opportunities that the dry and warm season brings. Baliao shared that the milkfish breeders of the research center at Tigbauan Main Station are currently spawning daily, and their hatcheries are mostly filled with larvae.

SEAFDEC sees aquaculture opportunities amid El Niño. (2024, May 6). Watchmen Daily Journal, p. 3.