Effects of LLDA-LED Cage Relocation on Tilapia Productivity and Profitability in Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, Laguna, 2022

Date

1-2023

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jose Francis C. Buno

Committee Member

Julieta A. Delos Reyes, Agham C. Cuevas

Abstract

Sampaloc Lake is a valuable lake for tilapia aquaculture and tourism. Due to neglect, and partially the success of tilapia aquaculture, the overall quality of Sampaloc Lake has degraded over the years. To solve this problem, steps were taken by local authorities and stakeholders to solve, rehabilitate, and sustainably develop Sampaloc Lake. One of the methods chosen was through a zoning plan by LLDA that relocated tilapia cages in Sampaloc Lake. This program sought to bolster tourism and at the same time improve the water quality of Sampaloc Lake. However, the LLDA-led cage relocation layout made the arrangement of cages too dense which led to concerns of dissolved oxygen depleting that may have eventually affected tilapia productivity and profitability.

This research studied the effect of the cage relocation in Sampaloc Lake. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine the dissolved oxygen trends in Sampaloc Lake; (2) determine the effects on productivity of cage relocation; (3) determine the effects on profitability of cage relocation; and (4) derive policy recommendations based on the results of the study.

To test the effects of the LLDA-led cage relocation, a counterfactual study was employed that assigned tilapia farmers in Bunot Lake as a control group and tilapia farmers in Sampaloc Lake as a treatment group. Secondary data for dissolved oxygen levels was collected from LLDA, while primary data on tilapia farming was collected from field surveys conducted in the two lakes. The methods used in the study were: descriptive analysis, analysis of dissolved oxygen trends using piecewise regression, costs and returns analysis, t-tests comparing profitability and productivity across the two sites, and estimation of a production function.

The trend analysis and identification of structural breaks revealed a significant decline in dissolved oxygen levels after the cage relocation that occurred in 2018. The mean dissolved oxygen levels were below the standard of 5 mg/L recommended for aquaculture operations. The t-test of mean difference of selected variables across the two sites showed no significant difference in yield, profit, inputs, and major cost components after the cage relocation. It was also revealed that farms in both study areas were operating at a loss. Finally, the estimation of the production function highlighted that tilapia feeds and fingerlings were significant variables that affected tilapia productivity in Sampaloc Lake. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the LLDA-led cage relocation produced an opposite result as originally intended.

Based on the findings, the study recommends to monitor the declining dissolved oxygen trend in Sampaloc Lake, improve the cage layout of the LLDA zoning plan, study the farms operating at a loss, and explore other areas for future study.

Language

English

LC Subject

Tilapia, Fish trade

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2023 A14 B86

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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