Yes. Through the Buhi Waterless Fish Transport Technology (BWFTT), it is possible. The brainchild of a multi-awarded Filipino scientist Bonifacio Comandante¹, BWFTT is a major technological breakthrough that can potentially improve the competitiveness of the Philippine fisheries sector. Aptly called, the term 'buhi' means 'to set free'.

The BWFTT of Boni Comandante gets the attention of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Photo courtesy of www.bfar.da.gov.ph)

Comandante makes fish “sleep” before transporting them from fish farms to other areas using waterless tanks. His invention is based on the principle of fish hibernation; sleeping fish quickly wakes up once they are submerged back in water.
 
As part of evolution, certain fish has developed the ability to use air without water as an adaptive measure against predators. Comandante said that these species were able to survive through time but probably stopped using this ability as time progressed. However, he discovered that the fish, given optimal environmental conditions (a trade secret), can be made to ‘sleep’ and survive without water.
 
The discovery of BWFTT was serendipity. In 1987, Comandante was in Palawan studying sex reversal in groupers (Epinephelus tauvina Forsskal) (locally called lapu-lapu), which are hermaphroditic. One instance, he left the fish he used in an ice chest. It then came as a surprise for him the following day to find the same fish alive and in ‘tripod’ position (fins and tail lie flat on a surface). This was the birth of the ‘sleeping fish’ technology.
 
Through trial-and-error experiments, the technology was eventually perfected. Tests originally started with groupers but at present, the BWFTT is used to transport tilapia, milkfish, shellfish (clams, oysters and mussels), and crustaceans (crabs and shrimps). This invention can generate savings in terms of shipping cost as the weight is reduced by 75%. Shipment is also less stressful for the fish since it is waterless, which allows the fish to survive longer. Aside from better fish meat quality in taste and appearance, there is also reduced incidence of flesh stiffening.
 
The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) supports BWFTT although continuous tests are being conducted to see to it that there are no harmful residues that the fish may contain. So far, initial laboratory tests such as necropsy and histopathology as well as aquarium tank survival and performance for 10 days showed that there are no negative effects in using the BWFTT.
 
Comandante emphasizes that transported fish are only those which can be cultured and replenished. For the purposes of biodiversity protection, fish in the wild are not being transported using BWFTT.
 
_____________
 
Report based on the ADSS presentation of Mr. Bonifacio Comandate entitled “Indigenous Science, Phenomenological Studies, and Anthropological Insights on the Sleeping Fish Out of the Water” held on 18 August 2009.
 
¹ Comandante is an agricultural engineer graduate from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. He has a Masters Degree in Economics from the Asian Social Institute (ASI) and Costal Resources Management from Siliman University.  He is a candidate for PhD in Marine Biology and currently taking up PhD in Applied Cosmic Anthropology.