Researchers at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) have developed a surefire method to prevent the extinction of “ayungin,” a tasty fish indigenous to Laguna de Bay.

The method calls for induced spawning of “ayungin,” scientifically known as Leiopotherapon plumbeus, outside of 949 sq. km. (94,900 hectares) lake, which has now overflowed, its waters inundating a number of Laguna towns and cities in Metro Manila.

Laguna de Bay is also home to hundreds of fish pens and scores of urban poor communities.

Under the process developed by scientists of the Limnological Research Station (UPLB-Limno) in Mayondon, Los Baños, chemical hormones are used to induce the spawning of “ayungin.”

Dr. Pablo L. Ocampo, UPLB-Limno manager, said the technology may also be used not only to save the declining population of “ayungin” but also to protect and disseminate the population of certain fish species.

Apprised of the value of the technology to prevent the favorite fish of Dr. Jose Rizal from extinction, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has documented the work of UP-Limno.

Ocampo said that in experiments that the station had conducted, “the collected ayungin from Laguna de Bay responded very well” and that broodstocks have already spawned.

The technology, he stressed, is still being refined but maintained he is sanguine the method will be made available for commercial application soon.

If this happens, “ayungin” may be grown in other freshwater bodies, making it possible to supply the market with the most famous delicacy of Pateros and Taguig.

UPLB-Limno is the leading research station for limnology and biology of aquatic organisms in the Philippines. It has three research laboratories – Laboratory for Ornamental Fishes, Captive Breeding Laboratory, and Biology Laboratory.

It also maintains fish hatcheries and grow-out ponds.