This is a rare occurrence, according to Westly Rosario, executive director of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center and chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources center chief in Pangasinan.

Fishfarmer Ariel Fernandez raised the 16-month-old golden bangus in a fishpond in Barangay Linoc, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

It is 50 centimeters long and weighs 1.2 kilos.

More than 50 percent above its body is golden, while its belly is silver.

Fernandez also puzzled how the golden bangus was spawned as the fishpond has other regularly colored silver bangus.

Fernandez would leave the golden bangus in the pond every harvest time until it grew big.

It is perceived as “pampaswerte” (lucky charm) because of its unique appearance.

Fernandez said the fish remained in the fishpond even when the area was flooded.

However, he decided to turn over his lucky charm to Rosario for study at the BFAR center in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, where it is now raised in isolation in a small tank, he added.

Rosario said the golden bangus is given especially formulated feeds.

It will take four to five years for the fish to reach sexual maturity and can be used for experiment, he added.

Rosario said researchers in the center could not yet determine if the bangus is male or female.

They will crossbreed it with a silver bangus to see if the spawn will have a gold and silver combination, he added.

Rosario said he wants the golden bangus to be their mascot “because it is unique and for good luck.”

He wants to energize the bangus industry in the years to come, he added.

Rosario said seven years ago, he saw a golden bangus in Taiwan, when he had a project with the World Fish Center.

However, the Taiwanese refused to reveal his “secrets” for having that kind of bangus, he added. - By Eva Visperas (The Philippine Star)