Fisheries production improves in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The local fisheries production continued its positive streak, rising by 1.5 percent in 2019 amid better output in the municipal and aquaculture sectors.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that fisheries production reached 4.42 million metric tons (MT) compared to the 4.36 million MT recorded in 2018.

Aquaculture production went up by 2.3 percent to 2.36 million MT, accounting for 53 percent the largest share of the total national output at 53 percent.

Municipal fisheries also registered a 1.5 percent increase in production to 1.12 milion MT. Of the total volume, 86 percent came from unloadings in municipal fish landing centers while the rest were catch from inland bodies of water.

Commercial fisheries, on the other hand, saw a 0.7 percent drop in production to 940,000 MT. The sub-sector comprised 21 percent of the total output.

PSA noted a 3.7 percent jump in production of milkfish to 414,944 MT due to increase in stocking rate amid availability of stocking materials.

There was also a high survival rate of fingerlings and lesser incident of fish kill, as well as bigger sizes of milkfish harvested as some ponds resume operation due to higher demand of the commodity.

Production of seaweeds was also up by 1.5 percent to 1.5 million MT amid better quality of planting materials provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The growth was also attributed to lesser weather disturbances, proper application of fertilizers, increased seaweed farming efforts and operating capital and interventions from local government units.

More operators also engaged in seaweed farming and there were lesser occurrence of ice-ice disease last year.

Skipjack production rose by 5.2 percent to 271,833 MT as number unloadings for canneries improved. The higher volume of catch was also attributed to the establishment of fish aggregating device that served as fish shelter.

The common round scad (galunggong) jumped by 11.8 percent to 191,547 MT in output amid seasonality coupled with good weather conditions that resulted in more fishing trips.

Tilapia production also inched up by a minimal 0.03 percent to 321,187 MT owing to high survival rate of fingerlings stocked in freshwater cages and increase in area harvested.

Tiger prawn production likewise increased 2.5 percent to 46,003 MT following good quality of fry and normal salinity of water. There was also higher stocking rate in anticipation of high market demand in some areas.