BFAR Eyes Growth in Rabbitfish Aquaculture to Boost Fishermen's Income

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is promoting siganids, or rabbitfish locally known as samaral, to diversify aquaculture and boost fishermen’s incomes. The agency said growing samaral production could create new livelihood opportunities while strengthening the production, processing, and marketing value chain. “By giving fisherfolk direct access to technology and strong market support, we can boost the production of samaral nationwide,” BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig said in a statement on Tuesday. Samaral, also known as danggit, kitong, malaga, padas, and other local names, stands out for its white meat, distinct flavor, and versatility in Filipino cuisine. Producers can process it into dried, smoked, marinated, deboned, and ready-to-cook products. Meanwhile, BFAR said set technologies already support samaral production, including controlled breeding, hatchery seed production, nursery, and grow-out systems. “Researchers have demonstrated year-round seed production for Siganus guttatus, providing a technical foundation for expanding its culture,” it added. Likewise, farmers can raise samaral in brackishwater ponds and other fish farm systems. The species feeds on natural algae, selected seaweeds, and formulated feeds, giving farmers greater flexibility. Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, BFAR said samaral fish farm production surged 134 percent to 361.57 MT in 2025 from 153.89 MT in 2021. “While still small compared with established aquaculture commodities, the increase shows room to further develop production and encourage wider commercial adoption,” BFAR said. Salilig said BFAR aims to strengthen the entire samaral value chain to generate sustainable incomes for fisherfolk and fish farmers. “As we aim to improve the wellbeing of our fisherfolk, we see samaral as a strong opportunity to boost their livelihoods. Developing this species goes beyond simply producing more fish. We want to strengthen the entire value chain so its growth creates sustainable income for our fisherfolk and fish farmers,” Salilig said. /pai INQ