Fisheries production up in Q3

Fisheries production in the country continued to post a turnaround as it improved nearly two percent in the third quarter of the year amid better output in the aquaculture sector.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that total volume of fisheries production in July to September reached 990,140 metric tons (MT), 1.8 percent higher than last year’s level of 972,710 MT.

Aquaculture production hit 494,100 MT, up 5.8 percent. It took the largest share of the total national output at 50 percent.

Meanwhile, municipal fisheries registered a 3.2 percent decrease in production to 264,640 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 also saw a minimal 0.5 percent decrease in production to 231,390 MT. The sub-sector comprised 23 percent of the total output.

In particular, PSA noted higher production level of milkfish by 13 percent to 112,271 MT due to availability of fingerlings and good salinity of water in brackish water fishponds.

Increases in stocking rate in fishpens and cages were the result of the permission given by the Laguna Lake Development Authority to milkfish operators with no reported violations.

There were also good marketable sizes and high market demand for frozen and marinated milkfish and usage of good quality of fry and fingerlings in some areas.