Candaba, Pampanga— The country’s biggest crayfish nursery has officially opened in Candaba, Pampanga, marking a major push to strengthen the Philippines’ foothold in the global aquaculture sector.
The 1,280-square-meter facility is designed to mass-produce Australian Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), a high-value species known for its fast growth and strong market demand. The project is led by local firm Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., chaired by former Candaba mayor Jerry Pelayo, in partnership with Taiwan-based Da Shin Biotech Ltd. The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is providing technical support.
In a statement Friday, the DA said crayfish offers a “nutrient-rich, low-impact protein source” that requires little feed compared to other aquaculture species.
Inside the facility are 16 production tanks capable of generating up to 48,000 fry every two weeks. The nursery also uses a water-recycling system—an emerging technology in local crayfish farming—that helps reduce wastewater and conserve freshwater resources.
The operation will supply juveniles to Farm Fresh’s three-hectare grow-out ponds, which currently yield about 30 tons of market-size crayfish each year. It will also provide stock to partner growers as the industry prepares for expansion.
Beginning next year, Farm Fresh aims to scale its grow-out operations across 1,500 hectares in Luzon and 750 hectares each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The planned development is projected to produce more than 1,200 tons of crayfish every six months, a volume that could position the Philippines as a competitive supplier in the region.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in remarks delivered by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, said the expansion of crayfish farming could translate to improved livelihoods and food security. He also emphasized BFAR’s strict ecological safeguards, noting that each production site must uphold practices that protect native aquatic ecosystems.
“Built through the partnership of Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., Da Shin Biotech, and the DA-BFAR, this nursery shows that when government, private innovators and fisherfolk come together, progress stops being a dream—it becomes our shared reality,” Tiu Laurel said.
