USSEC - Aquaculture was invited to participate in the State of Philippine Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOPFA) Summit at the Seda Vertis North Hotel in Quezon City, Philippines on November 21, 2017. This summit presented the current status and development of the aquaculture industry focusing on aquaculture priority commodities such as milkfish, tilapia, shrimp, high value marine fish, shellfish, and seaweeds.
Participating groups included Philippine Milkfish Industry Group Inc. (PhilMIG); Philippine Tilapia Stakeholders Association Inc. (PhilTilapia); Philippine Shrimp Industry Inc. (PhiliShrimp); High-Value Species Philippines Inc. (HIVAP); and Philippine Association of Fish Producers Inc, (PAFPI).
Presentations focused on issues preventing the increase and development of more production in aquaculture priority commodities such as the high prices of farm inputs, lack of quality and quantity fry and fingerlings of different species, domestic prices, and the need for export market.
Nearly 500 participants from different fisheries stakeholders from government, academia, private fisheries stakeholders, aquaculture, processors, and media attended this event.