Fisheries production dips slightly last year

MANILA, Philippines — Fisheries production in the country slightly went down last year amid declines in the municipal and aquaculture sectors.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that total volume of fisheries production reached 4.4 million metric tons (MT), in 2020, down 0.3 percent from 4.42 million MT the previous year.

Municipal fisheries saw a 2.1 percent decrease in production to 1.1 million MT. Of the total volume, 86 percent came from unloadings in municipal fish landing centers while the rest were caught from inland bodies of water.

Aquaculture production hit 2.32 million MT, lower by1.5 percent. It took the largest share of the total national output at 52.8 percent.

On the other hand, commercial fisheries registered a five percent increase in production to 978,170 MT. The sub-sector comprised 22.2 percent of the total output.

Production of tilapia, skipjack, seaweeds, tiger prawn, yellowfin tuna, mudcrab, frigate tuna, big-eyed scad, squid and lapu-lapu declined.

Meanwhile, the common round scad (galunggong) increased by 7.2 percent to 202,656 MT in output amid seasonality coupled with good weather conditions that resulted in more fishing trips.

Higher production was noted in milkfish, blue crab, bigeye tuna and tamban.

Following the industry’s negative performance last year, the Department of Agriculture is hopeful the fisheries sector will pick up steam this year as it embarks on a massive aquaculture and mariculture development program, and enhanced partnership between commercial and municipal fishers for joint venture fishing operations.