The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST-PCAARRD) renewed its membership to the Technical Working Group on the Containment of Knifefish in Laguna de Bay in a recent ceremonial memorandum of agreement signing held at the National Ecology Center, Laguna Lake Development Authority in Diliman, Quezon City.
The activity was part of the Partnership Forum organized by the Laguna Lake Development Authority to enlist commitment from stakeholder groups to implement measures for controlling the population of knifefish, an invasive species in Laguna de Bay.
Dr. Nereus Acosta, LLDA general manager, in his keynote address, highlighted the need for continuing partnership among the inter-agency TWG, the Local Government Units of Rizal and Laguna, and other stakeholders for the management of the lake, without adversely affecting food security.
Knifefish is considered a nuisance species in Laguna de Bay because of its voracious feeding habit which includes prey that are of economic importance. The Knifefish R&D Program aims to provide scientific information on the life history, reproductive and spawning behavior, feeding ecology, movement and other information on knifefish that will help identify the vulnerability of the species, and develop effective management and control strategies.
Several measures, such as physical removal, development of gadgets for eradication, and development of uses (e.g., food products, fertilizer) are being implemented by the TWG member-agencies to control the knifefish population in Laguna de Bay.
