Fisheries production improves in Q3

MANILA, Philippines — Fisheries production in the country has improved by three percent in the third quarter  amid better output in the commercial and municipal sectors.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed  fisheries production  reached 1.02 million metric tons in July to September compared to  987,740 MT in the same period a year ago.

Commercial fisheries production increased by 11.5 percent to 255,160 MT. The sub-sector comprised 25.1 percent of the total output.

Municipal fisheries also saw a six percent increase in production to 280,830 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.

On the other hand, aquaculture production decreased by 2.7 percent to 480,670 MT, representing the largest share of the total national output at 47.3 percent.

The production of common round scad (galunggong) grew by 18.6 percent to 47,971 MT amid seasonality coupled with good weather conditions that resulted in more fishing trips.

Skipjack production also rose to 64,025 MT as unloadings for canneries improved. The higher catch volume was also attributed to the establishment of fish aggregating devices that served as fish shelter.

Yellowfin tuna, frigate tuna, bigeye tuna, squid, blue crab, lapu-lapu and tamban also saw a spike in production.

Meanwhile, production of milkfish, seaweeds, tiger prawn, tilapia, mudcrab, big-eyed scad, and mackerel  declined.