A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ESTABLISHING A MILK FISH FARMING

IN HINDANG, LEYTE

GROUP 4

INTRODUCTION

Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under
mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for
food. Worldwide, the most important fish species used in fish farming are milk fish, salmon,
carp, tilapia and catfish.

Aquaculture feeds can also contain soy and corn ingredients from industrial farms on
land that generate large amounts of water pollution. Fish can’t fully digest these ingredients, so
they end up in aquaculture wastewater. Just like wastewater from cattle or poultry farms,
effluent from fish farms can be a serious pollution source. What’s more, these crops could be
used for direct human consumption.

Aquaculture has long been practised by coastal communities in the Philippines. It

started with the traditional, low- density culture of milk fish in ponds mostly for local
consumption and evolved into commercial based systems for the culture of various species of
fish, shrimps, mollusks and seaweeds.

The aquaculture system contributes significantly to the country`s food security,

employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Fish farming is a particular type of aquaculture. It
provides a good combination of amino acids well suited to human nutritional requirements. The
Philippines has a long history in aquaculture and it involves practices in diverse ecosystems. The
aquaculture sector is growing much faster than capture fisheries. Sometimes, aquaculture is
also referred to as fish farming. A sustainable aquaculture strategy need;
  Recognition's of farmers earn a fair reward from fish farming
 To make sure that benefits and costs are shared equitably
 To promote wealth and job creation
 To make sure that enough food is accessible to all people
 To achieve the environment for the benefit of future generations
 To ensure that aquaculture growth is orderly, with both authorities and industry well
organized

There are mainly two kinds of aquaculture. They are marine and freshwater. The former
refers to culturing of marine species like shrimps, mussels, clams, oysters, sea bass, and
salmon. These all-aquatic species usually live in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Generally,
aquaculture in the Philippines was initially dominated by milk fish. Tilapia fish is the 2 nd
important fish species in the Philippines. Fisheries growth is an important contributor to
employment and income, expert earnings.

NATURE AND BACKGROUND STUDY

Milk fish, also called bandeng, or bangos, (Chanos chanos), silvery marine food fish that
is the only living member of the family Chanidae (order Gonorhynchiformes). Fossils of this
family date from as far back as the Cretaceous Period (145.5 million to 65.5 million years ago).
The milk fish is often collected when young and raised for food in brackish or freshwater
tropical ponds. It is a toothless herbivore 1 to 1.5 m (3 to 5 feet) or more in length with a deeply
forked tail. It is found throughout warmer regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans and can
withstand very shallow, warm (88 °F [31 °C]) lagoon water. From March to May, it lays up to
several million eggs in shallow, brackish water.

It is a popular fish in Southeast Asia and lives in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
and to live as a group around the edges of islands and coral islands. Young fish commonly live
for 2-3 weeks at sea and then move to the mangrove swamp with salt water, occasionally to a
watery salty lake. Milkfish will go back into the ocean when mature and can breed again. It is a
source of animal protein, B-complex vitamins and selenium, but it is also a significant source of
fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.

Milkfish can grow to a maximum length of 1.8 meters, but most of the time, it is about 1
meter in length. They can reach a weight of about 14.0 kg. and an average age of 15 years. Its
body is generally symmetrical (balanced) and is streamlined, with 2 dorsal spines and 13-17
soft-ray-fins. It also has 2 anal spines, 8-10 anal soft rays, and 46 vertebrae. Body looks
somewhat compressed, and it has a small mouth without teeth. It has 4 branchiostegal rays
(long, curved bones just below the operculum- gill cover), one dorsal fin, and falcate pectoral
fins (which are sickle-shaped fins situated just behind the head and help control the direction of
movement). Its body color is olive green, with silvery scales, and dark-colored fins. Internally,
the milkfish is composed of whitish colored flesh along with many tiny bones.

Milkfish are usually found along the coasts of continents or islands, particularly where
reefs are well developed. They also occur in large coastal lagoons. Milkfish are found in tropical
waters, rarely in waters that are affected by cold ocean currents. They are found in clear,
shallow, saline, and warm waters above 20°C. Adult milkfish also occur in freshwater lakes in
the Philippines, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Juveniles are found in large coastal lagoons, atolls,
and freshwater lakes. The depth range of the milkfish is 0 to 30 m.

Milkfish is overall herbivorous, because it does not have any teeth. It nibbles on small
plankton, algae, diatoms, and plants. It also often enters into shallow areas to find food, and
occasionally eats small invertebrates or fish, while it tries to nibble on algae, and plants. When
this fish is farmed in the fish pen, due to the lack of food, it starts eating the eggs and the larvae
that are in the fish pen.

Milkfish aquaculture first occurred around 800 years ago in the Philippines and spread in
Indonesia, Taiwan, and into the Pacific. Traditional milkfish aquaculture relied upon restocking
ponds by collecting wild fry. This led to a wide range of variability in quality and quantity
between seasons and regions.
 In the late 1970s, farmers first successfully spawned breeding fish. However, they were
hard to obtain and produced unreliable egg viability. In 1980, the first spontaneous spawning
happened in sea cages. These eggs were found to be sufficient to generate a constant supply
for farms.

In 2007, milkfish made up 17% of global finfish production behind only the 40% share
accounted for by Atlantic salmon. The Philippines and Indonesia account for the vast majority
of production. In 2009, Philippine milkfish production contributed to 14.03% of Philippine
aquaculture production behind seaweed (70.23%) and ahead of tilapia (10.53%).

Apart from their mid flavor, milkfish is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and
minerals. Consuming 85 gram of milkfish offers 2.78 µg of Vitamin B-12, 22.37 g of Protein,
7.018 mg of Vitamin B3, 0.415 mg of Vitamin B6, 177 mg of Phosphorus, 13.8 µg of Selenium,
7.34 g of Total Fat and 0.735 mg of Vitamin B5. Moreover, many Amino acids 0.251 g of
Tryptophan, 0.981 g of Threonine, 1.031 g of Isoleucine, 1.818 g of Leucine, 2.054 g of Lysine,
0.662 g of Methionine and 0.24 g of Cystine are also found in 85 grams of milkfish

Significance of the Study

The Milkfish Philippines is the milkfish or Malaysian fish, is one of the oldest
domesticated animals on the planet.

The indigenous fishing community in Milkfish Philippines preserved their culture and
livelihood for over 6,000 years by using this unique fish as a food source.

This region’s coral reefs and coastal areas are rich with nutrients from seaweeds and
coral that produce highly nutritious milkfish.
 In the Philippines are very vague. However, it is believed to have been introduced into
Philippine waters by immigrants from Malaysia sometime around the 3rd or 4th century A.D.

The milkfish’s adaptability and survival skills made it an ideal candidate for
domestication and have enabled it to thrive in various conditions, including being raised in
ponds built on stilts above the sea to prevent storm damage.

Objectives of the Study

1. General

This study will determine the feasibility of establishing a milkfish farming in Hindang,
Leyte.

Specific

Specifically, this project will aim to:

1. Present the overview of the local milkfish farming industry.

2. Present the milkfish farming area of operation,
3. Determine the market, production, organizational and financial viability of operating the
milkfish farming in Hindang, Leyte as an aquaculture business venture.
4. Identify probable problems which may be encountered and
5. Recommend specific courses of action based on the findings of the study.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

 The study was conducted during the period October to December 2022. The
market

aspect of this study is only limited to selected areas in Leyte namely, Inopacan, Hindang,
Hilongos, Bato, Leyte.

Date and Place of Study

The market study, surveys and interviews were conducted in the selected areas
in Leyte. Written output and analysis were done in the Saint Michael College of Hindang
Inc.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Research Design

This study utilized the Feasibility Study Research Design. A feasibility study looks at the viability
of an idea with an emphasis on identifying potential problems and attempts to answer the
question of viability of an idea or investment. Feasibility studies are descriptive in nature and it
also addresses things like where and how the business will operate. These type of studies
provide in-depth details about the business to determine if and how it can succeed, and serve
as a valuable tool for developing a business plan.

Methods of Data Collection

The study made use of primary and secondary data sources. Primary data included marketing,
technical, financial and organization and management data.

Market Data

Market data, which included the profile of the buyers, the consumer’s buying behavior and
product attribute ratings were gathered by the researcher's using the survey questionnaires.
Respondents were 49 fish vendors and 37 fisherman's residents in Bato, Hilongos, Hindang and
Inopacan, Leyte. All respondents were surveyed. Profile of the future and prospective buyers
were derived from the socio-demographic data of the respondents such as name, age, sex, civil
status, home address, years in schooling and year of business if he/she is a fish vendor. The
buyer’s consumption behavior towards the product includes the purchase data, quantity and
frequency of buying and the factors influencing in their buying decision. Attributes of the Milk
Fish production valued by the target buyers were also be determined. Organizational set-up
and technical data were gathered through an informal interview with the prospective
cooperator. The sampling procedure used was Purposive sampling. The 49 fish vendors and 37
fisherman’s residents of Bato, Hilongos, Hindang and Inopcan, Leyte constitute the population
upon which the sample size was drawn using this formula:

Where: n= sample size

N= total population

V= standard value

E= sampling error

p= largest possible proportion

Methods of Data Analysis

Market Data

Market data which included the profile of the buyers, the consumer’s buying behavior and the
product attribute ratings will be gathered by a survey questionnaire as an instrument. These data were
encoded using Microsoft Excel and analyzed. Frequency counts and mean comparisons were done and
results were presented in the tabular form.

Financial Data

Overview of the Industry

Contribution of the Economy

 Status of Production

Utilization

THE PROJECT AREA

General Description of the Area

Geographic and Topographic Profile

Land Area and Geographic location

Topographic

Socio- Economic Profile

Infrastructure and Facilities

Road System and Transportation Utilities