Philippine government moves to improve genetics material of milkfish to increase long-term output

The Philippine government wants to improve the genetics material of bangus to increase its long-term output, but it may take 25 years to do this. In a virtual briefing, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 3 Director Wilfredo Cruz said the government has moved to study how to improve the genetics material of local bangus production. This, according to him, will be a massive program that will require hundreds of millions of budget during its initial implementation. Cruz, who also serves as the government’s bangus focal person, said the initiative will involve a multi-sectoral research project that will be led by National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), the private sector, and the academe. The result of the research will then be the basis of the government to draft a proposal for a long-term national program on this. “Within the year, we are positive about being able to craft a proposal and have it approved,” Cruz said. “University of the ...