THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the fisheries industry’s performance in the third quarter will be “fair to good,” with the aquaculture sector expected to take up any slack should ocean fisheries show any weakness.
“Kung humina sa third quarter ang dagat, mayroon naman tayong produksyon sa aquaculture (If the sea-based fisheries are weak, we’re counting on aquaculture) so we are projecting fair to good production. We will see at the end the year. I hope we can get that 2% (target growth),” BFAR Director Eduardo B. Gongona told reporters.
In the second quarter, fisheries output rose 1.90% year-on-year led by yellowfin tuna, round scad, tiger prawn, and tilapia, which brought growth in first-half production to 1.51%.
In volume terms, production hit 1.1 million metric tons (MMT), up 4% year-on-year.
Commercial fishery production declined 2.4% to 280,810 metric tons (MT), that of aquaculture fell 0.3% to 548,390 MT. Production in municipal waters rose 4.3% to 309,860 MT.
“Nagfo-focus tayo sa aquaculture ngayon (We are focused on aquaculture now)… we believe na iyan ang maga-angat ng palaisdaan (this will lift the fisheries sector) within the next three, five, 10 years… kasi nagre-rehabilitate tayo ng (because we are rehabilitating) municipal waters, which is the most productive sector,” Mr. Gongona said.
He noted that the Department of Agriculture aims to increase production and income of farmers and fisherfolk, and as such the agency has realigned its programs to help achieve the DA’s goals.
“Nag-concentrate muna kami doon sa maraming ani, maraming kita kasi (We are concentrating on segments with the potential for large harvests and profit since they) generate more employment,” he said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
