Fish delivery volume bounces back in March

MANILA, Philippines — Monthly fish deliveries in the country’s regional fish ports (RFPs) bounced back in March with the start of the dry season, but still lower from last year’s unloading volumes.

Latest data from the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) showed the RFPs delivered 46,935.07 metric tons (MT) of fish to all clients and stakeholders last month, a 43.56-percent jump from 32,694.01 MT in the previous month.

“This favorable circumstance in March can be related to the onset of the dry season, with generally fair-weather conditions and calmer seas, making it more advantageous for fishing activities,” the PFDA said.

However, last month’s volume was still lower than the 59,988.98 MT fish unloaded in the same month last year, which was a record high for RFPs since July 2020.

Based on PFDA records, seven RFPs recorded positive unloading volumes. The latest data published did not include reports from two RFPs, namely Sual and Calamig ports.

Fish unloading in the General Santos Fish Port Complex cornered nearly half of all the total catch at 23,210.07 MT.

The GenSan port maintained a positive trend with a 40.21-percent increase in volume compared to February unloading of 16,554.21 MT.

The Navotas Fish Port Complex also saw a rise in fish catch with 16,733.55 MT of fish, which went up 44.5 percent from 11,580.40 MT in February.

The PFDA said four ports registered a two-month rise in fish deliveries this year, namely the Lucena Fish Port Complex, the Bulan Fish Port Complex, the Iloilo Fish Port Complex and the Zamboanga Fish Port Complex.

The Lucena port delivered 2,329.38 MT of fish last month, up 29.92 percent from 1,792.89 MT in the previous month.