PFDA registers highest monthly fish unloading

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reached its highest monthly fish unloading for this year in November with 49,718.434 metric tons delivered in the country’s regional fish ports (RFP).

The PFDA did not provide monthly unloading volumes for the year.

But the latest unloading volume in the country’s RFPs showed a 55 percent jump from 32,091.03 MT of fish in the same month last year.

The PFDA registered its highest fish unloading volume in June last year when it reached 58,132.09 MT.

The agency said the General Santos Fish Port Complex contributed almost half of the total unloading record for the month at 24,377.649 MT.

The Navotas Fish Port Complex bounced back after several months of unsteady unloading volume, transporting 19,404.97 MT of fish to clients and stakeholders.

The Zamboanga Fish Port Complex and Davao Fish Port Complex significantly increased their monthly unloading and looked at ending the year on a positive note.

The Mindanao ports unloaded 1,157.45 MT and 440.39 MT of fishery products, respectively.

The Bulan Fish Port Complex performed well this month with 1,144.4 MT of fish unloaded and delivered to consumers.

On the other hand, the agency said northeasterly wind flow and shear lines which caused scattered rain showers and thunderstorms lowered fish deliveries in the Iloilo Fish Port Complex and the Lucena Fish Port Complex.

The Sual Fish Port delivered 82.57 MT of fish.

The Iloilo port unloaded 1,652.7 MT while the Lucena port delivered 1,458.32 MT of fish.

This year, the Iloilo port is undergoing a rehabilitation project.

As of end-September, the improvement project is 85.55 percent complete.

The PFDA earlier said it is working on reducing post-harvest losses due to spoilage of fish and fishery products.

It is also planning to put up more Regional Fish Port complexes through the proposed Marine Agri-Tourism Industrial Complex projects.