Effects of Midas Cichlid (Amphilophus Citrinellus) Invasion on the Profitability of Grow-Out Tilapia Cage Farms in Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines, 2025

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Arvin B. Vista

Committee Member

Geny F. Lapiña, Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

With rich natural resources, tilapia fish cage farming in the seven lakes of San Pablo City became one of the primary livelihoods among farmers. However, negligent management practices led to the introduction of Midas cichlids to the lakes of Sampaloc, Bunot, and Pandin, predating, consuming, and outcompeting other fish. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources implemented a retrieval project in which farmers were paid PhP 50 per kilo of Midas cichlids harvested to avoid further depletion of other economically important native and non-native fishes and raise the profitability of farmers. However, according to the farmers, the initiative was unable to increase net returns due to its difficulty in catching, low market value, and aggressive behavior.

This research studied the effects of the Midas cichlid invasion on the profitability of grow-out tilapia fish cages. The specific objectives were: (1) compare the management practice of tilapia fish cage farming in an environment with and without Midas cichlids; (2) determine the level of profitability of tilapia cage farming in an environment with and without Midas cichlids; (3) identify the factors affecting the profitability of tilapia cage farming; and (4) draw recommendations based on the findings of the study.

To test the effects of the Midas cichlid invasion, with and without approach was utilized. For the profitability comparison in the presence of Midas cichlids, fish cages from Palakpakin Lake and fish cages without adaptation from Sampaloc Lake were compared. For the profitability comparison in terms of adaptation, fish cages with and without adaptation at Sampaloc Lake were compared. On-site interviews collected primary data from farmers from both lakes in the absence of data regarding net returns. Methods used in the study are descriptive analysis, profitability analysis, t-test for profitability comparison, sensitivity analysis, and multiple regression analysis.

The t-test for profitability comparison showed no significant differences in the overall profitability across tilapia fish cage farming groups, except for labor and feed cost. Regression analyses confirmed that production cycle, farming experience, and price of starter feeds affect net returns in Sampaloc Lake, while farm size and price of labor and starter feeds affect net returns in Palakpakin Lake. Indeed, manual removal and selling Midas cichlids did not significantly increase the profitability of tilapia fish cage farming. It is recommended that less labor-intensive monitoring be conducted, boosting the market of Midas cichlids, conducting studies on tilapia fish cages operating at a loss, forming fisherfolk associations for bulk purchase discounts, and exploring future studies on non-native invasive species other than Midas cichlids should be conducted.

Language

English

LC Subject

Tilapia, Fish culture—Environmental aspects, Fishes--Breeding

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 A14 M34

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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