During the second quarter of 2023, fisheries production registered a total volume of 1,082.22 thousand metric tons. This indicates a decrease of -11.3 percent from the 1,219.94 thousand metric tons output in the same quarter of the previous  year. Annual declines in production were noted in commercial fisheries, marine municipal fisheries, and aquaculture subsectors. Meanwhile, inland municipal fisheries subsector reported an annual increase in production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Commercial fisheries production was estimated at 235.24 thousand metric tons during the quarter. This  represents a decrease of -14.5 percent from the 275.19 thousand metric tons output in the same quarter of the previous year. The subsector comprised 21.7 percent of the total fisheries production during the period. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

The volume of production for marine municipal fisheries was recorded at 234.90 thousand metric tons during the quarter. This indicates a reduction of -16.8 percent from the same quarter of 2022 level of 282.41 thousand metric tons. The subsector’s share to the total fisheries production during the period was 21.7 percent. (Figure 3 and Table 1)

During the quarter, inland municipal fisheries production reached 38.23 thousand metric tons. This volume inched up by 4.4 percent from the same quarter of the previous year’s estimate of 36.61 thousand metric tons. The subsector contributed 3.5 percent to the total fisheries production during the period. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Aquaculture production was registered at 573.85 thousand metric tons during the quarter. This  reflects  a  downturn  of -8.3  percent  compared with the 625.72 thousand metric tons output in the same period of 2022. The aquaculture subsector constituted the largest share of 53.0 percent to the total fisheries production. (Figure 5 and Table 1)

Of the 20 major species, decreases in production were mainly noted in skipjack (gulyasan, -49.3%), milkfish (bangus, -19.1%), seaweed (-4.9%), fimbriated sardines (tunsoy, -42.2%), and yellowfin tuna (tambakol/bariles, -23.2%). (Table 2)

On the other hand, increases were reported in roundscad (galunggong, 30.1%), and tiger prawn (sugpo, 0.9%). (Table 2)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD
(Assistant National Statistician)
Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office