Milkfish is no longer dominant fish species raised in Laguna de Bay. Bighead carp, locally known as "karpa," has edge out bangus as the preferred fish for stocking in fishpens in the 90,000-hectare freshwater lake, according to latest figures of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (DA-BAS). Over the past five years, bighead carp production increased considerably - from 2,500 tons in 1997 to 18,945 tons in 2001, noted Wilfredo G. Yap of the government-hosted, Tigbauan, Iloilo-based Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD).

Karpa, the new dominant fish species at De Bay. (2002, December 19). Manila Bulletin, p. B-8.