ERADICATING INVASIVE YET POPULAR FISH SPECIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

ERADICATING INVASIVE YET POPULAR FISH SPECIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Have we already given up on eradicating two invasive fish species simply because they have become popular—and perhaps even tolerable to our tastes? I am talking about Tilapia and the African Catfish.

These species were not born in our waters. They were introduced, nurtured, and eventually spread like wildfire. Now, they appear on almost every dining table, fish market, and aquaculture pond across the country. Have they now become “naturalized,” or shall we say “Filipinized”? True, we may have acquired the taste for them, but should that mean, we must also abandon the fight against their invasive nature?

Because let us not forget—no matter how widely accepted they have become, Tilapia and the African Catfish remain ecological scourges. They eat the eggs of our native fish, including our own Hito, and they disrupt delicate ecosystems. They are predators, not just of smaller fish but of biodiversity itself. That is their nature.

Yes, I concede that these two species now support the livelihoods of many farmers who raise them commercially. They provide cheap protein for millions of Filipinos. But I ask: is that enough justification to ignore the damage they continue to inflict on our environment and native species? Should the promise of affordable food and quick profit blind us to the long-term ecological cost?

This problem has now gone so far that even the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) itself promotes the cultivation of Tilapia and African Catfish. Does that not constitute a conflict of interest? Shouldn’t BFAR be on the side of protecting biodiversity, rather than endorsing the very species that endanger it? And while we are at it—does the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have anything to say about this? Do BFAR and DENR even talk to each other? Or has this issue become a “free for all,” with no one acting as referee?

I would imagine that the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) should be at least mediating this matter. If the DENR is mandated to protect ecosystems and BFAR is mandated to develop aquaculture, then who steps in when their missions clash? Perhaps NIPAS could be that referee. But if this conversation is going to be a long one, then why not invite the DTI and DOST as well? After all, this is no longer just a fisheries issue—it has become an economic, scientific, and national development question.

Let us also be clear. Not all catfish are invasive. The native Hito is ours, and it is part of our culinary and cultural identity. But all Tilapia species, without exception, are invasive. So why continue promoting Tilapia? Why not push milkfish instead—our national fish, already accepted and loved by Filipinos? Or even Maliputo, the pride of Taal Lake? Sadly, Maliputo itself could soon vanish from Taal’s waters because Tilapia cages dominate its migratory paths. What a tragedy if we lose such a symbol of heritage, featured even on our fifty-peso bill, all because we allowed an invasive substitute to take over.

I understand that eradication may be too ambitious. Once an invasive species takes hold, completely wiping it out is almost impossible. But does that mean we simply surrender? Shouldn’t we at least scale down, control, and redirect our efforts? Shouldn’t we be promoting native species side by side with management of the invasives?

To me, this issue boils down to one key principle: balance. Yes, Tilapia and African Catfish have become part of our food chain and economy. But no, that does not mean they should be allowed to run wild, unchecked, and unchallenged. It is one thing to tolerate them, it is another to endorse and expand them.

The Philippines has already adopted a National Invasive Species Strategy and Action (NISSA) Plan. The paper exists. The question is—are we enforcing it? Or are we letting market demand dictate ecological policy? What does NISSA say about Tilapia and African Catfish?

We Filipinos are known for our adaptability and resilience. But perhaps in this case, our “acquired taste” for Tilapia and African Catfish has made us too complacent. We should not confuse familiarity with legitimacy. These species are still outsiders, and they are still threats.

So, I ask: have we decided, silently and without debate, to let invasives become our norm? Or will we finally have the courage to confront them—not only with science, but also with policy, conscience, and foresight?

Because if we do nothing, then future generations may only know our native fishes as museum specimens, while our tables are left with nothing but Tilapia and imported catfish. That would not just be a loss of biodiversity. That would be a loss of identity.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-08-2025