BFAR: 'Flowerhorn' fish in Laguna lake are safe-to-eat golden tilapia

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the San Pablo City Agriculture Office have clarified that the fish being caught in Sampaloc Lake in Laguna and mistaken for flowerhorn fish are actually Midas cichlids, also known locally as "golden tilapia."

In a report by Vonne Aquino on "24 Oras Weekend" on Saturday, fishermen at Sampaloc Lake raised concerns over declining fish catches, blaming invasive species such as the supposed flowerhorn and jaguar cichlids.

"Salot dito [dahil] nangangain po ng mga e, 'yung mga tilapia kinakain [ng flowerhorn] at tsaka nitong mga jaguar," fisherman Totoy Aguason said.

(They are a pest here because they prey on other fish. The flowerhorns and jaguar cichlids eat the tilapia.)

Based on the fishermen's observations, the population of the supposed flowerhorn and jaguar cichlids has increased significantly over the past decade.

A study by the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Biology and the Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory warned that the growing presence of flowerhorn fish in Sampaloc Lake could pose risks to biodiversity and public health in nearby communities.

The brightly colored fish was believed to have been introduced through the aquarium trade before reportedly escaping into the lake during a major typhoon in 2016.

Flowerhorn cichlids are known for their aggressive territorial behavior, allowing them to dominate breeding and feeding grounds. Studies have also found that they can serve as hosts for parasites that may pose risks to humans.

However, the San Pablo City Agriculture Office said its assessment found that the bright-colored fish being caught by local fishermen are actually Midas cichlids—a close relative of the flowerhorn—and are commonly referred to as "golden tilapia."

"We've started na gawin siyang food products through drying, so maganda naman yung result kasi from P25 na binebenta nila 'yung fresh, pag dinry namin siya binebenta namin P400 a kilo," said Office of the City Agriculture Supervising Administrative Officer Erlene Delgado.

(We've started processing them into dried fish products, and the results have been good. While fishermen sell them fresh for only P25, the dried product can be sold for as much as P400 per kilo.)

Delgado said the city government is encouraging fishermen to catch golden tilapia to help control the invasive species while providing them with an additional source of income.

BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera likewise said the fish seen in Sampaloc Lake are Midas cichlids, not flowerhorn fish.

"Ayon sa eksperto, hindi ito flowerhorn kundi Midas Cichlids. Family siya ng flowerhorn. Invasive siya... 'Yung mga communities diyan, ginagawa nilang daing," Briguera said.

"Safe naman siya for consumption provided na na-retrieve siya nang fresh, niluto nang maayos, nilinis bago lutuin," he added.

(According to experts, these are not flowerhorn fish but Midas cichlids, which belong to the same family. They are an invasive species, but communities have been processing them into dried fish. They are safe to eat as long as they are freshly caught, properly cleaned, and thoroughly cooked.) — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/MCG, GMA News