Fish production drops in early 2022: PSA

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), fish production in the country dropped from January to March of 2022.

In the released Fisheries Situation Report for the first three months of the year, the total production was 971,500 metric tons compared to 973,620 metric tons in 2021.

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Less than 0.2 percent or more than 2,000 tons compared to last year.

Commercial and marine municipal fisheries have reduced production. According to the group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), can be directly attributed to the spike in petroleum product prices.

It is said that some fishermen have also changed their livelihoods because 80 percent of their investment goes only to fuel.

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“This is the sum of all our concerns. The cumulative oil price hikes have sparked a domino effect to fisheries production, fish supply, market prices, and ultimately to food security,” said Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando Hicap.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, on the other hand, acknowledged the problem of oil prices, especially since their budget for fuel subsidies and typhoon victims is limited.

“It’s again a combination of factors. Kalian ba ‘yong bagyo? Nagi-impact ngayon sa first quarter. So apektado ang bangka ng fisherfolks natin. We have limited budget. Hindi lahat ay mabigyan ng bangka,” said Dar.

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Fish production drops in early 2022: PSA

Importance is one of the ways the Department of Agriculture (DA) sees to fill the fish shortage.

Dar confirmed that the import permit for fish had been extended for the first quarter of 2022. This is despite the opposition of some commercial fishing groups.

Among the types of fish that have decreased production are those used to manufacture sardines.

For the Oceana group, overfishing must be regulated without depleting the country’s resources.

The DA plans to intensify the aquaculture industry to support the commercial and marine municipal fisheries shortage.

 predicted a fish supply shortfall of around 90,000 metric tons this year, based on a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fish supply estimate (BFAR).

“We continue to monitor fish prices which are now slightly increasing, and the decision to extend the CNI (certificate of necessity to import) is part of the price stabilization efforts of the government,” said Dar.

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