Fisheries output dipped in Jan-Mar period

Fisheries production in the first three months of 2022 declined slightly as commercial and marine municipal fisheries subsectors pulled down output, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its fisheries situation report, the PSA pegged the volume of fisheries production at 971,500.80 metric tons (MT) from 973,622.41 MT a year ago.

“Decreases in production were noted in commercial and marine municipal fisheries, while aquaculture and inland municipal fisheries pulled up their outputs,” it added.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said local fish catch and production from both marine waters and aquaculture, respectively have decreased due to several factors.

Dar said commercial fishing groups in Palawan hardly went out due to high fuel cost; thus, unloading of “galunggong” or roundscad declined considerably.

Prices of “bangus” (milkfish) and tilapia have risen by at least P20 per kilogram (kg).

Bangus is sold for P180 per kg from P160 per kg while the selling price for tilapia is P140 per kg from P120 per kg. For galunggong, fresh catch sells for P240 per kg, while imported ones retail for P210 per kg to P240 per kg.

Likewise, the closed fishing season in Davao Gulf is expected to reduce the country’s fish catch for the period.

From June to August this year, fishing is prohibited in the area to make way for the spawning and regeneration of small pelagic fishes.

Commercial fisheries posted an 8 percent decrease in output to end at 177,165.03 MT.

Municipal fisheries unloaded a total of 257,782.36 MT, down by 0.1 percent. Of this amount, marine municipal fisheries harvested a total of 218,732.01 MT while inland municipal fisheries accounted for the remaining 39,050.35 MT.

On the other hand, total harvest from aquaculture farms increased by 2.6 percent to 536,553.41 MT.

The aquaculture subsector still provided the lion’s share at 55.2 percent, followed by municipal fisheries at 26.5 percent and commercial fisheries at 18.2. percent.

Of the 20 major species, large declines in the production were reported for mud crab (“alimango,” 24.8 percent), skipjack (“gulyasan,” 20.2 percent) and fimbriated sardines (“tunsoy,” 13.5 percent).