Huwebes, Abril 14, 2011

Ornamental Fish Production Gets Long-Deserved Attention

The government and the private sector are finally collaborating to promote the production of ornamental fishes which could become a new sunshine industry.
Only recently, a strategic plan of action has been crafted to promote the growing of ornamental fishes, particularly in Laguna Lake and Taal Lake. The vision is to provide profitable livelihood to families living along the shores of the two major lakes. Rather than marginal fisherfolk or employees of factories that often provided temporary jobs, they could become small entrepreneurs growing pet fish.
As concrete step toward the realization of the vision, a techno-demo center for the production of koi and other aquarium fishes was recently launched in Cardona, Rizal. Another one has been started in Sucat, Paranaque, along Laguna Lake. The techno-demo centers are the collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture and the private sector spearheaded by Bio Research. Headed by Wilson Ang, Rio Research is the country’s biggest grower and marketer of aquarium fishes and other pets. It has the experience, the facilities as well as the breeders that could jumpstart an honest-to-goodness development of the industry.
During the 2nd National Ornamental Tropical Fish Symposium and Exhibit held in Bio Research, BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento, Jr. also announced that the agency’s research station in Lemery, Batangas, will serve as the core hatchery for the production of fingerlings.
In the past many years, ornamental fishes were not given much attention by the government because the priority had always been food fish such as tilapia, bangus, carp and other species.
Dr. Rosa F; Macas, director of BFAR Region 4-A. revealed that as early as 2000, they tried to promote ornamental fish production after observing that the Philippines was importing a lot of goldfish and many other species. The program, however, did not prosper for a number of reasons such as lack of breeders, lack of research and development, lack of facilities and others.
Fortunately, in 2003 Wilson Ang approached the BFAR proposing a collaboration of his firm with the government agency. Collaboration of the two, including the local governments, would really push the program significantly. For one, Bio Research has the technical know-how in breeding and management of ornamental fishes. It has the available breeders as well as the market. Wilson assured that all the technical know-how of Bio Research in connection with ornamental fishes will be openly shared with the public. “No secrets here,” he said.
BIG UNTAPPED MARKET
Wilson sees a big export potential for ornamental fishes if the program could be undertaken in such a way that large volumes could be produced year-round.
The untapped markets are the big hypermarts in the United States and Japan. Wal Mart, Tepco and Petsmart are huge chains in the US with pet sections in their outlets which number by the thousands. Wilson said these chains have been wanting to source their supplies from a major source that could supply them with their requirements throughout the year. As of now, he said, they get their supplies in limited quantities from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and elsewhere. The supply is not consistent and erratic in availability.
Wilson believes that if the ornamental tropical fish industry could be developed in Laguna Lake and Taal Lake, we can supply the big players in the US. Besides the US, another big market is Japan. As this was being written, Wilson was in the process of negotiating with a big chain of garden stores (with pet sections) in Japan for year-round supply of tropical fishes.
To be sure, all orders will have to be booked ahead of time. The hypermarts will have to indicate their particular requirements, including specific delivery dates, prices and other pertinent details. Bio Research can handle this aspect of the business.
The beauty of growing big volumes of tropical fishes in the two lakes is that proper standards could be set. The superior genetic makeup of the stocks should be maintained so that the fish for export will be more or less uniform and of excellent quality.
What the government should do is to create zones around the two lakes where the small fisherfolk can undertake the growing of tropical fishes. With the guidance of the experts of Bio Research and of the government agencies, the fish farmers will learn the fine points of ornamental fish culture. Ornamental fish
culture is simple and does not require very expensive gadgets, according to Wilson.
THE “BREAD-AND-BUTTER” FISHES
Wilson said that this is the right time to go full blast in the production of the socalled “bread-and-butter” tropical fishes. These include goldfish, angelfish, guppies, mollies, livebearers, cichlids and many others.
He explained that there is a supply gap in these so-called bread-and-butter species. He said that Singapore used to supply the world market with 25 percent of ornamental fishes coming from Southeast Asia. Now, the Singapore growers have shifted from the lower-priced species to high-priced ones like Arowana. The lower-priced fishes usually fetch a few dollars each, or even less than a dollar, in the world market. On the other hand, top quality Arowana could fetch $10,000 each or even more.
There is, therefore, a good chance for the Philippines to supply the void, Wilson said. As of now, according to Dr. Rosa F. Macas, the Philippine share in the world market is only 7.8 percent of those supplied by Southeast Asian countries. The country’s share in the world market is 2.38 percent. So there’s an excellent opportunity for local fish farmers to produce more and sell more to the world market.
THE FOCUS IN CARDONA
The focus in Cardona will be the breeding and production of Japanese carp or koi and goldfish, according to Dr. Macas. These are two of the most popular species in demand here and abroad. Bio Research, for instance, exported to one importer in Canada 30,000 koi last year at a price of less than a dollar each. Since March up to June this year, they have exported more than 20,000 pieces, some of which are bigger than the four to six inches exported last year. Some are 10 inches long. According to Wilson, the Canadian importer will buy about 120,000 pieces in 2007. The good thing about the exports is that there has been practically no mortality in the shipments.
Hopefully, many fish farmers in Cardona and nearby areas will be able to produce koi and goldfish in big volumes so that when a big volume order is received, it will be met immediately.
At the Sucat demo center, different species will be experimented on to find out
the species that local fish farmers can successfully culture.
In another sense, the promotion of ornamental fish production around Laguna Lake is timely since a recent la” mandates that only 10% of the lake’s area could be used for aquaculture. There was a time when 38 percent of the lake’s 90,000 hectares was used for aquaculture. So far, it ha3 been reduced to 14 percent. Even with less space, fish farmers could make more income from ornamental fishes than from tilapia or some other food fish. For instance, a six-inch koi that is worth one dollar would already be the equivalent of a kilo of tilapia.
Hopefully, this could be the beginning of an honest-to-goodness development of the tropical ornamental fish industry in this country.

Miyerkules, Abril 6, 2011

Koi Fish Meaning

koi fish pictures

Koi Fish meaning in Japan is good fortune or luck they also are associated with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Symbolic in Buddhism to represent courage.
According to Japanese legend, if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River, it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.
Another legend states that the koi climb the waterfall bravely, and if they are caught, they face their death on the cutting board bravely like a samuri. In Japan, the word koi refers primarily to the wild variety. As a result, many of the country's symbolic meanings for the fish refer to the wild variety instead of the fish species as a whole. One of the primary reasons the fish is symbolic in Japanese culture is because it is known for swimming upstream no matter what the conditions are. These fish are even said to swim up waterfalls. This is viewed as an absolute show of power because they will continue to swim upstream as if on a mission. They cannot be distracted or deterred by anything.
The koi is also a popular symbol for the family, especially in Japan - black koi for father, flame red koi for mother, blue and white for boy, and pink and red for girl.

Ogon Koi: The platinum colored fish represents the fulfillment of wealth in the form of success in business.
Yamabuki Koi: The gold fish represents (of course) gold, wealth and prosperity.
Koi were developed from common carp in ancient China and was later transferred to Korea and Japan, and are still popular there because they are a symbol of love and friendship.
The Asagi is one of the oldest Koi Breeds of Nishikigoi and has provided the basis for many subsequent varieties. Asagi are blue-grey in color, some have a red belly which can sometimes come up to the lateral lines and cheeks of the Koi. The scales upon the back are edged in a darker grey giving a highlight to each individual scale. Its back is covered in a net-like reticulated scale pattern of indigo, navy blue or pale blue. The light blue head should be clear and unblemished. The base of the pectoral fins, tail fin, stomach, and gill plates is a deep orange or red color.
Shusui is a doitsu (scaleless) version of Asagi, usually with large mirror scales along the lateral lines and/or to the right and left of the dorsal line.
Koi with a red head patch are called "Tancho." Tancho do not form a single, independent kind of Nishikigoi; they all can be bred from KohakuTaisho Sankshoku or Showa Sanshoku. Their red patch happens to show up only in the head region. Tancho, therefore, can not be produced in bulk even if you so wish. Most common are "Tancho Kohaku (all-white Koi with Tancho)," "Tancho Sanshoku (white Koi with Sumi similar to Shiro Bekko, and with Tancho)," and "Tancho Showa (Showa Sanshoku without red markings except for Tancho)," etc. However, "Tancho Goshiki (Koi of five colors with Tancho)," and "Tancho Hariwake" are rare.
The essential point for appreciation is the red patch in the head region, of course. The red head patch sitting right at the center of the head region is the best. The white skin is also important as it is the milky white color that sets the red head patch off to advantage.
koi fish picturesDoitsu lineage does not mean Nishikigoi bred in Germany, but rather those Crossbred with Japanese Koi and black carp imported originally for food from Germany. They differ from ordinary Nishikigoi (or "'Wagoi' meaning Japanese Koi) in scale arrangement.
Doitsu Koi with lines of scales on the back and along the lateral lines are called "Kagami-goi (mirror carp)," and those without scales or with only one line of scales on each side along the base of the dorsal fin. Doitsu Koi are crossbred into almost all Koi breeds of Nishikigoi. Doitsu Koi are to be viewed for the orderliness of scale arrangement and the absence of unnecessary scales. Each Koi should have the features characteristic of its own original variety.
Ochiba Shigures are made by breeding a Chagoi with a Soragoi. Look for a nice Kohaku-like brown pattern. This is a very nice fish and this type really stands out in any collection. The Japanese breeders often name the Koi after things that they like. Ochiba Shigure, for example, means "leaves fallen on the water."

Ornamental Fish Breeding and Culture

There is an increasing demand for ornamental fish worldwide. In the US alone, there are around 1,500 hypermarkets that require continuous supply of ornamental fish.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reports that 90 percent of the fish traded in the world market are freshwater species. The country currently supplies around 3.8 percent of the total ornamental fish export worldwide valued at US$4 million. Most of these fishes are marine species that are caught in the wild.
In the past many years, ornamental fishes were not given much attention by the government because the priority had always been food fish such as tilapia, bangus, carp and other species.
Dr. Rosa F. Macas, director of BFAR Region 4-A revealed that as early as 2000, they tried to promote ornamental fish production after observing that the Philippines was importing a lot of goldfish and many other species. The program, however, did not prosper for a number of reasons such as lack of breeders, lack of research and development, lack of facilities and others.
Fortunately, in 2003 Wilson Ang approached the BFAR proposing a collaboration of his firm with the government agency. Collaboration of the two, including the local governments, would really push the program significantly. For one, Bio Research has the technical know-how in breeding and management of ornamental fishes. It has the available breeders as well as the market. Wilson assured that all the technical know-how of Bio Research in connection with ornamental fishes will be openly shared with the public. “No secrets here,” he said.