Aquaculture Data San Pablo City LGU

Bunot Lake-  Bunot Lake used to have greater than the set aquaculture carrying capacity of 10%. Fish cages were mainly located along the lake shoreline of Bunot Lake, and a few were scattered in the middle during the 80s. In the following decade (1990s), there was a considerable increase in fish cages in the lake clustered at the center while only a few remained at the shore, as well as the start of the appearance of water lilies in the lake. A subtle decrease in fish cages and an increase in water lilies occurred in the next 10 years until 2022.

In 2022, the combined forces of LLDA, BFAR, the provincial government, the municipal government of San Pablo, the Coast Guard, and the police came to Bunot Lake to address the concern that operators were refusing to demolish their unregistered fish cages. The increasing price of feeds decreased the number of fish cages. Typhoons Milenyo (2007) and Glenda (2014) also destroyed several fish cages. In 2023, LGU San Pablo recorded only 3.8 hectares covered by aquaculture. 

Calibato Lake- Aquaculture was also practiced in Calibato Lake during the 1980s. A handful of cages were scattered in the lake, while some were ashore. Water lilies were also present, but only near the lake border. Besides transferring fish cages closer to the shore, minimal water and land use changes occurred from 1991 to 2000. During the 2000s, there was a significant increase in fish cages. The number of fish cages was then reduced to a considerable number in the following years (2011-present). 

San Pablo City LGU and LLDA reported that the registered fish cages occupied less than 10% of the lake's aquaculture carrying capacity. However, aerial images commissioned by the study in 2023 (see photo on the left) revealed that fish cages almost filled the lake's surface area. Although measuring the actual area occupied by these cages was difficult, these images clearly show that several owners still operated unregistered fish cages in 2023. The participants of the FGD claimed that the owners of the fish cages during this time were sons and daughters of businessmen and thus had the capital to build fishing infrastructures.

Mohicap Lake- This lake has the least area coverage for aquaculture among the seven lakes. 

Starting 2011 up to 2022, there were 11 fish cages, less than the 10% carrying capacity of the lake (2.049 hectares as per San Pablo LGU and 2.289 as per LLDA), with 11 operators in Mohicap Lake. However, 13 individuals paid the registration fees to LLDA despite not owning any fishing infrastructure. This is so they would retain their right to access fishery. The production period was still six months, and the average harvest was less than 300-500 kgs per 10x10 cage. Some fishermen own 600 sqm with six 10x10 fish cages or three 10x20, while some own 400 sqm with four 10x10.

The fisherfolk started using floater feeds, but feeding remained intermittent due to expensive feeds. Moreover, the fishermen believed they would incur additional costs if the fish cages were moved to the side of the lake to give way for the water activities of the Mojicap Recreational Park as part of the Tourism Master Plan of San Pablo City. They added that there were no recent fish kill events in the lake.

The drone shot taken in 2023 (see image on the left) shows that fish cages occupied less than 10% of the lake. However, as observed, the cages were in the middle of the lake instead of a designated fish cage belt/zone. This is a concern should the lake be further developed as an ecotourism destination.

Palakpakin Lake- Second to Sampaloc Lake is Palakpakin Lake in terms of area coverage of aquaculture. From 1980 to 1990, aquaculture in the lake was minimal as the lake was mostly covered with water lilies, and boat riders traversed the lake from  Barangay Dolores to Barangay San Lorenzo. In the following decade (1991-2000), aquaculture boomed, and some fish cages were scattered, and others were grouped into clusters.  All the fish cages were clustered into six areas in the lake, while water lilies were all amassed on the south side of the lake near the inlet. The cages have stayed more or less the same the following decade (2011-Present).

According to the FGD participants, in 2015, the fish cages occupied 4,000 square meters (sqm) per operator, and a year later, this decreased to 3,000 sqm/operator. Then, in 2022, this further reduced to 600 sqm/operator for a total of 4.8 hectares, achieving the lake's 10% aquaculture carrying capacity. This was attributed to the concerted efforts of LLDA, BFAR, and San Pablo LGU to remove non-registered fish cages. Some fishermen also voluntarily demolished their fishing infrastructure. The production period was six to seven months. The water lilies were also almost gone during this period. However, this gave rise to the growth of algae. The fish cages were then transferred to the fish cage belt/zone around 2016 and 2017.

Moreover, the production period was much longer from 2016 to the present due to the poor quality of water. As a consequence, the fishermen practiced intensive feeding using sinker feeds.

Pandin Lake- During the 1980s, Pandin Lake was mainly used for aquaculture, with fish cages scattered around the lake with the presence of some water lilies. While there was little to no development in the lake during the 2000s, it was in the 2010s that the fish cages were clustered near the lake’s circumference and had reduced significantly (see graph on the left). The reduction in cages was due to the lake’s oligotrophic nature, apart from the increasing price of feed.  

In 2022, some fishermen stocked the cages in January and February, but most did so in March. For those who started in January, partial harvest started in July, and harvest season ended in September, while for those who started in March, harvest season was from August to September. After that, another fishing season started, but fish were harvested in December to avoid the cold months when duong or lake upwelling usually occurs. 

Sampaloc Lake has a surface area of 104 hectares according to LLDA's document in 2012. During the 1980s, there were around 17 fish cages occupying around 100 square meters (sqm) in Sampaloc Lake, based on the recollection of the FGD participants. The study requested historical data on the number of fish cages, number of operators, and area occupied by fish cages from LLDA multiple times, but we failed to get official data on fish cages. The graph on the left presents the number of fish cages from before 1980 to 2022, as reported by the local fishermen. 

However, what the project team managed to acquire is the latest Carrying Capacity data from San Pablo City LGU and LLDA, as shown in the table above.  Although the number of fish cages in 2023 was within the 10% carrying capacity of Sampaloc Lake, there is still a possibility of building illegal fishing infrastructure in the lake. Since the LLDA and San Pablo LGU do not have adequate manpower to patrol the lake 24/7, the FARMC and Bantay Lawa have come into action. The FARMC and Bantay Lawa are the government's partners in implementing rules and regulations in the seven lakes. Their roles include reporting any illegal activities in the lake, such as building illegal fishing infrastructure and illegal fishing.

Yambo Lake—The case of Yambo Lake is similar to Pandin in that the lake was initially used for fishing and aquaculture, along with bathing, cooking, and drinking. However, due to the “cleanness” or the oligotrophic nature of the water, the residents eventually turned to ecotourism, which now serves as their main livelihood. Although some still practiced open fishing and aquaculture in Yambo, the number was minimal and less than the lake's carrying capacity.

In the 2000s, fish cages decreased, and water lilies proliferated. In the 2010s, the lake was completely cleared of water lilies, which were then replaced by “Kulantro” plants extending halfway to the east side of the lake. While the lake was still being utilized for aquaculture, there was a significant decrease in the fish cages as it was at this time when the local residents prioritized the utilization and development of the lake for ecotourism through raft tours.