San Pablo City - There are many indigenous species in the seven lakes of our City. But we are losing them more and more with the introduction of invasive species like fishes that grow really large as in 3 feet or more.

Last week photos of some prawn species that are found in Palakpakin Lake were taken. Palakpakin Lake is the shallowest of the lakes with only 7.3 meters at its deepest according to google. But with siltation, it's probably even shallower than that. The lake has a total area of 43 hectares, making it one of the smaller lakes..   

Below are photos of three species which have been identified but still have to be verified. The first is locally called "Hipon Palakpakin".  It measured to 15cm. It grows in this lake and is harvested in small quantities only because of the dwindling numbers. It's not harvested for commercial purposes because there is not much but just for home consumption by fisherfolk around the lake. This type of prawn used to be found in the other lakes, according to the older people, but not anymore.

The other two are similar to species that are also found in Laguna Lake, which is the largest lake in the Philippines. This lake is about 30 minutes drive from our City.  It is a freshwater lake with a surface are of 911,000 hectares with an average depth of 2.8 meters. The smaller prawn in called "yap-yap", according to my Dad?s friend who works with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center's Aquaculture Department. I'm not sure of the name of the other prawn yet.

We are thinking of researching the possibility of growing these prawns in aquaponics systems that can be placed in backyards. This will be a good alternative livelihood for fisherfolk.