Measures Against Dirty Tricks in Bangus (Milkfish) Farming

Stop! There's something fishy here!

Measures Against Dirty Tricks in Bangus (Milkfish) Farming


Against dishonest caretaker
 
· Choose carefully your caretaker. Conduct a background check on him and ask for references from previous operators. Require clearance from the "barangay" (local village office) or police authorities. If pattern of losses continue, replace your caretaker. Under Philippine laws, a fishpond is not considered agricultural land, so a fishpond caretaker does not enjoy security of tenure unlike a rice farm tenant. You have the legal right to fire and replace him if he commits serious wrongdoing.

· Preferably, stock size 12 or 14 fingerlings in grow-out ponds since you'll be able to track the quantity. The quantity put in at these sizes is almost the same as quantity to be harvested. Record the quantity and size stocked. Monitor actual size and growth rate of fingerlings more frequently.

· Maintain a complete record of operational information (such as size, quantity, mortality rate, rearing period, feed quantity, etc.) from harvest to harvest by pond by cropping season. Don’t rely merely on financial records of sales and expenses from year to year. Financials may give indications of anomalies committed. But operational data will give clearer evidence of any wrongdoing.

· Conduct personal surprise visits including at odd hours day and night.

· Ask one of your friends-neighbors to serve as your eyes and ears in a confidential capacity. Provide him with incentives to alert you to any dubious actions or suspicious happenings.

· Establish contacts in the fish center who can report to you any unauthorized sales of fish by your caretaker during odd hours (when he has no business selling) and in suspicious quantities.

· If fishpond operation is quite large and additional costs can be absorbed, make use of appropriate surveillance technology (such as a CCTV system).

Against outside poachers

· Clear pond surroundings of low hanging branches, tall weeds, and trim small trees to improve visibility around the pond and remove possible hiding places for outsiders and intruders.

· Make sure caretaker does frequent inspection around the ponds and dikes.

· Check for presence of gill nets ("tabal") around the ponds (the float line can be seen on the pond water surface) and trap cage (“nasa”) through the presence of pull strings, and other trap devices.

· Scatter spiny branches (such as of the thorny camachile tree or pithecellobium dulce) around the pond to make it difficult for intruders to encroach.

· Install barriers to prevent entry by poachers into the inner dikes of your pond.

· Deploy guard dogs.

· Install pond lighting.
 
· Make random rounds during night time using flashlight around the ponds.

· Build a small watcher’s hut preferably in the middle of the farm (for instructions on building a bamboo hut, click this).
 
. Install an electronic timer in the hut where you can plug in your compact flourescent lamp. (hut lighting goes on and off randomly or at designated times). 

A pond hut in the middle of the fish farm. Can use tarpaulin as walls at night, which can be folded up during the day. Use an electronic timer to turn on and off the light automatically

· Avoid leaving the pond unattended at any time.


· If you have extra funds, invest in a CCTV surveillance system for the fish farm (for the detailed steps, click this)
 
. When bangus are near market size, let your trusted caretaker sleep in the pond hut at night to make sure that any attempt to steal your fish can be more easily detected. Tie the guard dog(s) at the pond hut for extra security. They have a keen sense of smell to detect strangers and their loud barks can deter thieves or alert your caretaker.

 

A CCTV metal pole with 2 cameras (part of a 7-camera surveillance system for the fish farm)

Against unscrupulous hired pond workers

· Conduct a background check of all temporary workers before you hire them. Ask for feedback on individual workers and work groups from friends and neighbors. Avoid dealing with a worker or group with a bad reputation or track record.

· Designate household members or trusted relatives as watchers during critical phases of  the harvest.

· Don't allow bringing of sacks, bags, etc. in the pond during harvest work. In case sacks and plastic bags are needed, put them under the control of a trusted watcher or staff.

· Assign watchers to monitor all post-harvest activities to make sure that no fish are taken out on the sly from the ponds.

· Have someone to watch and monitor the shipping area, processing area, and along the route in between.

· Avoid having hired workers coming from just one family or close group. It's easier to conspire if they decide to commit wrongdoing. Mix other workers not belonging to such group to make collusion more difficult during harvest and post-harvest work.

Against scheming “tabal” workers
 
· Assign a trusted person to observe the “tabal” operation, especially the removal of fish and prawn from the gill net.

· Before work begins, check out all the “tabal” gear, including sacks. Count the number of sacks.

· Make sure that the workers don’t bring with them empty sacks or plastic bags into the pond where they can temporarily hide looted prawns, underwater.

· Have your own “tabal” nets made for you.

· Assign the “tabal” work to your own trusted pond workers.

· Carefully check out all the “tabal” nets and sacks after the “tabal” work is done, to make sure that no fish or prawn is taken out on the sly.

· Make sure to weigh all “tabal” catch at the pond before these are sold at the fish center. Record number of kilos for bangus, tilapia, and white prawns.

· Require the presentation of signed sales receipt prepared by the fish center buyer.

· Ensure proper packing of fish and especially white prawns to prevent loss of moisture and ensure proper chilling with ice on the way to the fish center.
  
· Assign the selling task to trusted staff only.

Against devious suppliers  

Keep a central storage where all supplies are kept. Assign your overseer or caretaker (a trusted person) as custodian. Keep a record of feeds purchased as well as record of issues/usage for each pond per cropping season. 

Conduct a count of feeds supplies from time to time. Check against records. That way, you’ll know if feeds stock are missing or are consumed unusually fast.
 
Develop reliable suppliers or agents of bangus fry and fingerlings, including white prawn fry. Deal directly with them (not through the caretaker). Monitor and canvass prevailing fry prices yourself. Keep tabs on the performance of your suppliers and agents as to selling price, delivery, quantity, customer service, and quality of products delivered.
 
Ensure thorough checking of all supplies delivered prior to payment. Check number of sacks, size of sacks, quality of content of sacks, pricing, and timeliness and reliability of delivery. Also make sure that the buying price is in the range of current prices paid by majority of fish farmers in the locality.

For a complete list of Fish Pond Buddy blog posts on fish farm-related topics, please click the Index page.