Document BFS-001 | Operations Manual | April 2026

Gary's Bangus Farm — Operations Manual

For: Aaron & Sean | Bulacan, Philippines | Startup Season 2026
FarmGary's Bangus Farm (GBF)
LocationHagonoy / Paombong, Bulacan
OwnerGary (Canada — remote)
On-Ground ManagersAaron & Sean
BudgetPHP 500,000 – 2,000,000
Version1.0 | Approved by Gary
A Message from Gary Aaron and Sean — this manual is your guide for running the farm. I am in Canada and cannot be there every day, so I need you both to follow these steps carefully. If something is unclear, message me right away. I trust you both. Let us build this farm together and make it profitable for all of us.

Table of Contents

  1. Farm Overview & Your Role
  2. Daily Operations Checklist
  3. Weekly Tasks
  4. Monthly Tasks
  5. Feeding Guide
  6. Water Quality Management
  7. Disease & Emergency Protocols
  8. Harvest Protocol
  9. Financial & Reporting
  10. Contact Directory

01 Farm Overview & Your Role

What Is This Farm?

This is a bangus (milkfish) pond farm located in Bulacan, Philippines. The goal is to grow bangus from fingerlings to market size (500g–800g) and sell them at a profit. Gary owns the farm and funds all operations from Canada. Aaron and Sean are responsible for everything that happens on the ground.

What Does Success Look Like?

Your Responsibilities

Task AreaWho Does ItHow Often
Daily pond monitoring and feedingAaron & Sean (take turns or together)Every day
Aerator checks and maintenanceAaron (primary) / Sean (backup)Every day
Logbook entriesWhoever is on duty that dayEvery day
Weekly report to GaryAaron writes, Sean reviewsEvery Sunday
Feed sourcing and receipt keepingSean (primary)As needed
Security — perimeter walkBothEvery evening
Fish sampling and weighingBothWeekly
Harvest coordinationBoth — Gary gives go signalEnd of cycle
Important Rule Never make a purchase above PHP 2,000 without first messaging Gary for approval. Take a photo of every receipt and send it to Gary the same day.

Profit-Sharing Incentive Structure

Gary rewards Aaron and Sean for good performance. Here is how your earnings connect to farm results:

Pay ComponentAaronSeanCondition
Base Monthly Salary PHP 15,000–18,000 PHP 13,000–16,000 Paid every month regardless of harvest
Harvest Bonus 3% of net harvest income 2% of net harvest income Paid after each successful harvest cycle
Zero-Loss Bonus PHP 3,000 PHP 2,000 Fish mortality below 10% for the full cycle
Clean Records Bonus PHP 1,500 PHP 1,500 All logbooks, receipts, and weekly reports complete for the cycle
Example If net harvest income is PHP 200,000, Aaron earns PHP 6,000 bonus and Sean earns PHP 4,000 bonus — on top of their monthly salary. The better the harvest, the more you earn.

02 Daily Operations Checklist

Print this page. Use one copy per day. Tick every box. File in the logbook binder at end of day.

Morning Tasks (5:00 AM – 8:00 AM)

Midday Tasks (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

Evening Tasks (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM)


Daily Logbook Entry Format

Daily Farm Log — Gary's Bangus Farm

03 Weekly Tasks

Do these every week. Best day: Saturday for farm tasks, Sunday for the report to Gary.

Fish Weighing Tip Always weigh fish from at least 3 different spots in the pond — near the inlet, the middle, and near the outlet. Fish in some areas may grow faster. An average across the whole pond gives Gary a more accurate picture.

04 Monthly Tasks

Do these in the last week of every month. Some require extra supplies or lab tests — plan ahead.

05 Feeding Guide

Feed Type Progression

StageFish AgeFish SizeFeed TypeFeed Form
Fry / FingerlingWeek 0–40.5g – 5gStarter feed (protein 35–40%)Fine crumble or powder
JuvenileWeek 4–125g – 80gGrower feed (protein 28–32%)Small pellet (1–2 mm)
Grow-outWeek 12–2480g – 450gCommercial grower pellet (protein 25–28%)Medium pellet (2–3 mm)
Pre-HarvestWeek 24–28450g – 800gFinisher feed or reduce to growerMedium or large pellet

Daily Feeding Rate

Fish SizeDaily Feed Rate (% of body weight)Feedings Per DayTime of Feedings
Below 5g (fry)8–10%4 times6 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM, 6 PM
5g – 50g (juvenile early)5–8%3 times6 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM
50g – 200g (juvenile late)3–5%3 times6 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM
200g – 400g (grow-out)2–3%2 times6 AM, 5 PM
400g – 800g (pre-harvest)1.5–2%2 times6 AM, 5 PM
How to Calculate Daily Feed Amount (Example) 1,000 fish x average weight 200g = 200,000g total fish biomass. At 3% feeding rate: 200,000 x 0.03 = 6,000g = 6 kg of feed per day. Split across 2 feedings = 3 kg per feeding.

Feeding Technique

Signs of Overfeeding

If you see overfeeding signs: Reduce feed by 20–30% immediately. Increase aeration. Check ammonia level. Message Gary with photos.

Signs of Underfeeding

Feed Storage Rules

06 Water Quality Management

Target Water Quality Ranges

ParameterGood RangeWarning LevelDanger Level
Temperature (C) 27–32 24–27 or 32–35 Below 22 or above 36
pH 7.5–8.5 7.0–7.5 or 8.5–9.0 Below 6.5 or above 9.5
Dissolved Oxygen — DO (mg/L) Above 5.0 3.0–5.0 Below 3.0
Salinity (ppt) 5–25 2–5 or 25–30 Below 2 or above 35
Ammonia — NH3 (mg/L) Below 0.1 0.1–0.5 Above 0.5
Secchi Depth (cm) 25–40 15–25 or 40–60 Below 15 or above 60

What to Do When Readings Are Out of Range

pH Too Low (below 7.0)

pH Too High (above 9.0)

Dissolved Oxygen Low — Emergency Protocol

EMERGENCY — Low DO (fish gasping at surface) This can kill all your fish within hours. Act immediately.

Ammonia Too High (above 0.5 mg/L)

Water Too Cloudy (Secchi below 15 cm)

Liming Schedule

WhenProductRateHow to Apply
Before stocking (pond bottom preparation)Agricultural lime (CaCO3) or quicklime (CaO)500–1,000 kg per hectareBroadcast dry on pond bottom. Let dry 5–7 days before filling with water.
Monthly during grow-out (if pH is low)Agricultural lime (CaCO3)50–100 kg per hectareBroadcast on pond surface in the morning. Do not apply on cloudy days.
After a disease event or fish killAgricultural lime (CaCO3)100–200 kg per hectareBroadcast evenly. Wait 3 days before restocking.
Lime Safety Wear gloves and eye protection when handling lime, especially quicklime. Do not inhale dust. Store lime in dry bags away from water.

07 Disease & Emergency Protocols

Common Bangus Diseases — How to Identify and Respond

DiseaseTypeSigns You Will SeeFirst Response
Bacterial infection (Aeromonas, Vibrio) Bacterial Red spots or ulcers on the body or fins. Skin looks like it is peeling. Fish swimming slowly or near the surface. Isolate affected fish if possible. Reduce feeding. Improve water quality. Call vet or BFAR immediately. Do NOT apply antibiotics without vet prescription.
Columnaris (Flexibacter) Bacterial White or yellowish patches on skin, gills, or mouth. Frayed fins. Fish scraping against pond bottom. Improve water quality. Reduce organic load. Increase aeration. Contact BFAR or vet.
Gill flukes / skin flukes (Monogeneans) Parasitic Fish rubbing body against objects (flashing). Rapid gill movement. Mucus on skin. Pale gills. Report to BFAR. Do not treat with chemicals without guidance. Improve water quality and reduce stress first.
Protozoan parasites (Trichodina, Ichthyophthirius) Parasitic White spots on body or fins (Ich). Fish gasping at surface. Loss of appetite. Scratching behavior. Contact vet or BFAR Region 3. Reduce stress. Improve water quality. Do not overcrowd.
Saprolegnia (water mold) Fungal White or gray cotton-like patches on skin, fins, or eggs. Usually appears after injury or stress. Remove and isolate affected fish. Improve water conditions. Contact vet for treatment guidance.
Nutritional deficiency Non-infectious Deformed spine or body. Slow growth across the whole pond. Pale color. Low appetite. Check feed quality — discard old or moldy feed. Switch to fresh, quality feed. Report to Gary.
Rule: Never Buy or Apply Medications Without BFAR or Vet Approval Using the wrong treatment can kill your fish faster than the disease. Always call the BFAR Region 3 technician or the farm vet before applying any chemical, antibiotic, or treatment to the pond.

Fish Kill Emergency Procedure

A fish kill means a large number of fish are dying or dead in a short time. This is a serious emergency.

Flood and Typhoon Protocol (Bulacan)

Bulacan is a flood-prone area. When a typhoon or heavy rain warning is raised:

Before the Storm (PAGASA warning raised)

During and After the Storm

08 Harvest Protocol

When to Harvest

Signs the Fish Are Ready Weekly sample weight is averaging 500g or more. Fish appear full-bodied and healthy. Buyer has confirmed purchase price. Gary has given the go-signal.

Pre-Harvest Preparation (1–2 weeks before)

Harvest Day — Step by Step

Harvest Record Template

Harvest Record — Gary's Bangus Farm

09 Financial & Reporting

Daily Expense Logbook Format

Every peso spent on the farm must be written in the logbook the same day it is spent. No exceptions.

Daily Expense Log
#Item / DescriptionSupplier / StoreAmount (PHP)Receipt (Y/N)
1
2
3
4
5
TOTAL FOR THE DAY

Cash Handling Rules

GCash Request Process

Weekly Summary Report to Gary

Send this every Sunday evening via WhatsApp or Messenger. Include photos of the pond and logbook pages.

Weekly Report Template — Gary's Bangus Farm
Photos to Always Send With the Weekly Report (1) Wide shot of the pond. (2) Close-up of the water surface. (3) Photo of the weekly fish sample on the scale. (4) Photo of the daily logbook pages for the week. (5) Photo of the feed storage area.

10 Contact Directory

Keep this list updated. Print one copy and post it on the wall of the farm shed. Keep another copy in your phone.

Farm Owner — Remote (Canada)
Gary
WhatsApp: [Gary's number — fill in]
Messenger: [Gary's Facebook — fill in]
GCash: [Gary's GCash — fill in]
Time zone: Eastern Canada (13 hours behind Philippines)
Best time to call: 8–10 PM Philippine time (7–9 AM Canada)
On-Ground Manager — Primary
Aaron
Mobile: [Aaron's number — fill in]
GCash: [Aaron's GCash — fill in]
Lives in: [Barangay / town — fill in]
On-Ground Manager — Secondary
Sean
Mobile: [Sean's number — fill in]
GCash: [Sean's GCash — fill in]
Lives in: [Barangay / town — fill in]
Feed Supplier
DLS Trading — Hagonoy
Location: Hagonoy, Bulacan
Contact: [Sales contact name and number — fill in]
Products: Bangus starter, grower, finisher feeds
Delivery: [Lead time and delivery schedule — fill in]
Payment: [Cash / GCash / terms — fill in]
BFAR Region 3 — Fisheries Authority
Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources
Office: San Fernando, Pampanga
Trunkline: (045) 455-0014
Email: bfar.region3@da.gov.ph
Use for: Disease emergencies, permits, technical advice, fish kill reporting
Fingerling Supplier
[Supplier Name — fill in]
Location: [Municipality — fill in]
Contact: [Number — fill in]
Min. order: [Fill in]
Lead time for restocking: [Fill in days notice required]
Primary Fish Buyer
[Buyer Name — fill in]
Location: [Market / address — fill in]
Contact: [Number — fill in]
Buying price: PHP [fill in] per kg (Grade A)
Preferred size: 500g–800g
Backup Fish Buyer
[Buyer Name — fill in]
Location: [Market / address — fill in]
Contact: [Number — fill in]
Buying price: PHP [fill in] per kg
Use when: Primary buyer is full or price is too low
Local Veterinarian / Fish Technician
[Vet / Tech Name — fill in]
Clinic: [Location — fill in]
Mobile: [Number — fill in]
Availability: [Fill in schedule / call hours]
Use for: Disease diagnosis, treatment prescription, emergency consultation
Barangay Emergency Contact
Barangay Captain — [Barangay Name]
Mobile: [Number — fill in]
Barangay Hall: [Number — fill in]
Use for: Theft, flooding, civil emergency, assistance from neighbors
Electrical / Aerator Technician
[Technician Name — fill in]
Mobile: [Number — fill in]
Location: [Municipality — fill in]
Use for: Aerator breakdown, electrical panel issues, generator repair
Trusted Local Backup Contact
[Name of trusted neighbor or relative — fill in]
Mobile: [Number — fill in]
Use for: Emergency when neither Aaron nor Sean can reach the farm. Gary may contact this person directly.
Action for Aaron and Sean Fill in all blank fields in this contact directory within the first week of farm operations. Send the completed version to Gary for his records. Gary keeps a copy in Canada too.

-- Reminders to Live By

The Three Rules of This Farm 1. When in doubt, message Gary — do not guess on important decisions.
2. Write everything down — if it is not in the logbook, it did not happen.
3. Take care of the fish like they are money — because they are.

This manual will be updated as the farm grows. If a situation comes up that is not covered here, use your best judgment, keep the fish alive, and contact Gary as soon as possible. Thank you for your work, Aaron and Sean. Let us make this farm a success.