WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR MORE INLAND FISHERIES?

 WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR MORE INLAND FISHERIES?

When we talk about food security in the Philippines, the conversation almost always drifts toward rice, imports, and maritime fishing. But there is a quieter, more stable, more resilient source of food that we are not maximizing: inland fisheries.

And yes, there is a growing need for more of them—but with a very important caveat. We should stop converting wetlands into fishponds. Wetlands are already among the most threatened ecosystems in the country. They regulate floods, nurture biodiversity, and act as carbon sinks. Turning them into ponds is a short-term gain with long-term ecological losses.

So how do we expand inland fish production responsibly?

The answer lies in above-ground, closed-loop technologies such as the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). Architect Ran Quijano, through his social enterprise, has been helping cooperatives set up these modular RAS facilities—systems that recycle water, minimize waste, and fit even in tight or urban spaces. This is the kind of innovation that doesn’t eat up wetlands or agricultural land.

Another promising alternative is the use of recycled shipping containers—a brilliant example of the circular economy at work. Companies like Vantastic are already repurposing containers into aquaculture-ready modules. Stackable, movable, climate-resistant: these are the fish farms of the future.

Why stop there? We could go vertical. Imagine aquaculture inside high-rise buildings, idle warehouses, abandoned factories, basements, even parking structures. If we can plant lettuce in skyscrapers, we can certainly grow tilapia there.

Why inland fisheries matter now more than ever

1. Food Security and Nutrition

Freshwater fish—milkfish, carp, catfish—are a critical protein source. They provide omega-3s, iron, zinc, and other micronutrients essential for child development. Urban poor communities, who often struggle to afford marine fish, rely heavily on these inland species.

2. Livelihoods and Local Economies

Millions globally depend on inland fisheries for income. In the Philippines, women dominate fish drying, processing, and small-scale trading. This sector’s growth supports inclusive, grassroots economic resilience.

3. Climate-Resilient Protein

Unlike coastal fishing, which is threatened by typhoons, rising seas, and extreme waves, inland aquaculture can be shielded from the elements. A well-designed RAS tank doesn’t care if Signal No. 3 hits your province.

4. Cleaner and Safer

Marine fish are increasingly contaminated with microplastics. In mining areas, river and coastal species have shown mercury contamination—a public health time bomb. Controlled inland systems reduce this risk.

5. Cheaper and Greener

Catching or importing fish from far-off seas burns fuel. Producing fish in your own city or barangay slashes transport costs—and therefore emissions.

An ecosystem-friendly expansion

Saying “more inland fisheries” doesn’t mean “more fishponds.” It means smarter, cleaner systems that exist above the ground, not instead of ecosystems. It means aligning with biodiversity protection rather than competing with it.

Inland waters—lakes, rivers, marshes—are home to unique species now under threat from pollution and damming. Boosting sustainable inland fisheries is a way to invest in their protection, not their destruction.

A question for policymakers

If we can promote rooftop solar, why can’t we promote rooftop aquaculture?
If we can subsidize fertilizer, why not subsidize RAS modules for cooperatives?
If we can build malls, why not build vertical fish farms?

The technology exists. Social enterprises exist. The demand for clean, affordable fish definitely exists.

The missing link is political imagination.

A future within reach

Inland fisheries are not merely about raising fish. They are about reviving ecological memory, increasing community resilience, and bringing food production closer to where people actually live.

If we plan it right—and avoid repeating the mistakes of wetland conversion—this could become one of the most sustainable, scalable pillars of our food system.

Wouldn’t it be remarkable if every barangay could grow its own fish, shielded from storms, free from contamination, and supported by Filipino-designed technology?

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/07-07-2026