The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is revving up for the commercial dispersal this year of the "SaltUNO" or Molobicus, a genetically-improved saline-tolerant tilapia breed that adapts very well in brackish water.

Westly Rosario, director of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (BFAR-NIFTDC) in Dagupan, Pangasinan, said the eight-year collaborative effort with the Center of the International Cooperation for Research and Development in Agricultural Science (CIRAD), a French scientific organization specializing in development-oriented agricultural research for the tropics and sub-tropics, successfully developed the first generation Molobicus/SaltUNO.

"This is a major and positive development for the growing aquaculture sector, especially for tilapia producers that are constantly on the lookout for fast-growing tilapia varieties and for those wanting to engage in high-value prawn/fish polyculture. We can diversify production from freshwater to brackish water," said Rosario.

Aside from developing a new tilapia strain in high-saline environment, the Molobicus project aimed to optimize production in more than 240,000 hectares of brackish water ponds, reinvigorate the shrimp industry and spur development of more than 1,000 hectares of new brackish water fishponds, pens and cages.

Subsequently, production of the larger and high- quality tilapia for commercial processing will be geared for the global tilapia export market.

Rosario said SaltUNO was developed through hybridization and selection of saline-resistant tilapia strains. The new hybrid variety is a cross between two high-quality hybrid strains - the O. niloticus and O. mossambicus. The O. niloticus is a fast-growing species. The O. mossambicus which can tolerate high-saline conditions was popular in the 1950s but commercial production significantly declined with the growth of bangus or milkfish production.

The initial phase of the long process involved hybrid evaluation to determine the salinity resistance of the various hybrid generations and choosing strains best suited for the selection program objectives. The next step, the experimental phase, involved tests on salinity resistance and growth in brackish ponds.

"The results showed that SaltUNO can thrive in a high-saline environment which sits well with the government's thrust to encourage more development of aquaculture farms in brackish waters," noted Rosario.

At the hatchery level, one million SaltUNO fingerlings stocked in brackish water ponds doubled to two million in just a month which can be sold at a premium price of P0.30 per piece, while at the grow-out ponds, the average 250-grammers can fetch a farmgate price of P45 per kilo.

Rosario said there are various advantages in growing SaltUNO which grows faster and bigger than ordinary tilapia, thus, raising the chances for increased production.

"Fish grown in brackish waters compared to freshwater tastes better, the quality is also better, the flesh is darker which is what the market prefers."

Moreover, saline-resistant tilapia, if mixed with tiger prawns for instance, becomes a so-called "biomanipulator." It in effect discourages the growth of Vibriosis, a luminous bacterial disease that causes sudden drops in shrimp production.

Currently, many prawn growers are using tilapia to increase the bloom of microalgae in greenwater ponds, which in turn, enhances the growth and survival of the cultured species.

"Extensive prawn polyculture can be the target for a selected brackishwater tilapia in the country. In fact, it could become a low cost by-product of the prawn industry. Producing a saline-resistant tilapia in association with extensive prawn production is profitable."

At the same time, prawn/tilapia farming is sustainable, it makes extensive farming safer and more profitable than intensive farming.

Subsequently, higher tilapia production should keep tilapia prices steady and more affordable to consumers.

Rosario said that by next year, BFAR-NIFTDC will be coming up with the second generation of Molobicus strains which he said will even be better than SaltUNO.

"What we are trying to do is to come up with two different strains - one that would be ideal for extensive fish farming and the other better suited for intensive farming in a saline environment. Both would be fast-growing strains."

The current trials for Molobicus strain suited for extensive fish farming involves evaluating the growth performance of SaltUNO in a "no feeding" program wherein organic matter such as chicken manure is used to fertilize the grow-out fish ponds. The algae produced will serve as food for the tilapia.

On the other hand, the Molobicus strain for intensive farming, involves feeding tilapia with formula feeds.