Manila, July 11 -- The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) has launched a pioneering research initiative to breed Bali sardinella (Sardinella lemuru), locally known as tamban, in captivity.

In a news release on Friday, the NFRDI noted that this initiative was a first in Philippine fisheries research.

Tamban is one of the most widely consumed and affordable fish in the country. In 2023, sardines ranked second among capture fishery commodities, contributing 314,147.30 metric tons or 16.7 percent of total output, valued at PHP13.81 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

From 2018 to 2022, tamban consistently led small pelagic fish production, peaking at more than 339,000 metric tons in 2020. D...