In an unprecedented use of historical data, scientists have discovered a significant, 40-year shift in the parasite burden of Alaskan salmon —not by studying live fish, but by literally "opening a can of worms" from archives. Worm found in the Canned Salmon stored for decades ​A new study published in Ecology and Evolution utilized canned salmon fillets spanning four decades to track the presence of common parasitic roundworms ( nematodes ) in four commercially critical species of Alaskan salmon. The surprising finding is that the long-term health of these fish, and by extension the North Pacific ecosystem , is undergoing major change. ​The Canned Time Capsule ​Traditional parasitology research often relies on sporadic, short-term surveys, making it nearly impossible to track consistent ecological trends over decades. Researchers from the University of Washington and collaborators solved this problem by turning to the commercial seafood industry. ​They analyzed archived, c...

Smoked fish, known locally as tinapa, is a traditional Filipino delicacy made by preserving fish through brining and smoking. Among the various fish species used, Tunsoy (Fimbriated Sardines) is a key product in the industry. This article examines the value chain of smoked Tunsoy, covering its production process, economic viability, challenges, and growth potential.   Production Process of Smoked Fish The production of smoked fish involves two main stages: brining and smoking. First, the fish are soaked in a saltwater solution for 30 minutes, which enhances flavor and moisture retention. Next, they undergo smoking for 1 hour, giving them their signature aroma and taste. The full process includes washing (2-4 hours), soaking in brine (30 minutes), cooking (15 minutes), straining and cooling (1-2 hours), transferring cooked fish (6-12 hours), and finally smoking (1 hour). Since the entire process takes 24-48 hours and relies heavily on manual labor, there is minimal mechanizatio...

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has released its latest report on the Volume of Production of Agriculture and Fisheries for the first quarter of 2025, revealing notable trends across key sectors. The data highlights a 7.4% increase in crops production, a 9.3% rise in poultry output, and a 1.5% growth in fisheries compared to the same period in 2024. These figures underscore the resilience and evolving dynamics of the country’s agri-fishery industry.   Crops Production: Sugarcane and Tobacco Lead Expansion The total volume of crops production reached 26.94 million metric tons, marking a 7.4% year-on-year increase. Sugarcane emerged as the top performer, with output surging by 19% to 12.10 million metric tons, accounting for nearly 45% of total crops production. Tobacco also saw an extraordinary 80.4% growth, though its overall volume remained modest at 20.49 thousand metric tons. Other gainers included cacao (up 23.6%) and rubber (up 13.6%), signaling dive...

Landbank of the Philippines, a state bank, launched an enhanced loan program for farmers, fishermen, agribusiness, and agriculture graduates. This lending program aims to make financing easy and accessible for farmers. In the last article titled " Resilient way for Philippines Government to address Financial Support to Farmers " we shared farmers's experiences on how they tag-of-war on the price of commodities they had produced to the informal financial providers. We also mentioned that the "significant financial problem faced by farmers in agriculture is the limited access to formal credit and insurance services." This is also based on a related study in India.  The state bank wants financing services more accessible to farmers at a low interest rate and minimal requirements. The small farmers and fishermen, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are those target clients to benefit from the offer of ...

President Marcos Jr. encouraged fishermen and farmers to enroll their farms in the Department of Agriculture's (DA) extensive insurance program during his speech on Friday at the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) in Isabela. The program was issued under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and covers all types of crop production, livestock, and fisheries. "Ito pong insurance na ito sa mga pananim o kagamitan sa pangingisda ay napakahalaga, lalung-lalo na sa mga rehiyon na madalas tamaan ng bagyo o kalamidad,” President Marcos Jr. emphasizes the provision that farmers can get from the program on the report of PCO . The PCIC insurance programs are greater behind the crops, livestock, and equipment because they also offer Credit and Life Term Insurance. This offer gives protection to agricultural producers, fishermen, and other agricultural stakeholders, including their family memb...