Current Status on the Use of Chemicals and Biological Products and Health Management Practices in Aquaculture Farms in the Philippines

?Aquaculture in the Philippines yields largely milkfi sh Chanos chanos and black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. In 2005, milkfi sh and shrimp production from brackish water ponds alone were 210,652 and 37,720 metric tons, respectively (Table 1). Milkfi sh production is concentrated in Regions 1, 3 and 6 in Northern and Central Luzon, and Western Visayas while shrimp is concentrated in Regions 3, 9 and 10 in Central Luzon, and Western and Northern Mindanao (Table 1). The practice of traditional polyculture and extensive monoculture did not pose major problems. However, when culture system shifted to semi-intensive and intensive systems, stocking densities were increased and formulated feeds were used.1) Management of water quality and maintenance of the culture environmen