Fisheries production in Western Visayas drops 10.4%

The total fisheries production in Western Visayas for the first quarter of 2024 experienced a significant decline, dropping by 10.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

The decrease, amounting to approximately 7,762 metric tons, brought the total production down to an estimated 66,561 metric tons from last year’s 74,323 metric tons, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This reduction was observed across all fisheries subsectors. Aquaculture saw a 4.4 percent decline, commercial fisheries dropped by 6.8 percent, marine municipal fisheries fell by 18.5 percent, and inland fisheries experienced the steepest decline at 63.4 percent.

Breakdown by Subsector

Aquaculture: This sector, which accounted for 43.2 percent of the region’s total fisheries production, decreased from 30,137 metric tons in Q1 2023 to 28,798 metric tons in Q1 2024.

Commercial Fisheries: Representing 26.8 percent of the total production, this sector saw a decrease from 19,115 metric tons to 17,822 metric tons.

Municipal Fisheries: This includes both marine and inland fisheries and contributed 30.0 percent to the total production. Marine fisheries declined by 18.5 percent to 19,543 metric tons, while inland fisheries dropped sharply by 63.4 percent to 398 metric tons.

Provincial Contributions

Aquaculture: Antique, the largest contributor with a 56.0 percent share, saw a decrease of 5.9 percent. Iloilo’s production dropped by 29.1 percent, and Aklan’s production fell by 55.1 percent. Conversely, Capiz and Guimaras reported increases of 5.1 percent and 132.5 percent, respectively.

Marine Municipal Fisheries: Negros Occidental, with a 29.8 percent share, reported a decrease of 35.5 percent. Iloilo’s production plummeted by 60.7 percent, while Capiz and Aklan saw decreases of 6.8 percent and 33.6 percent, respectively. Antique, the top producer with 33.9 percent share, increased by 88.0 percent, and Guimaras increased by 7.51 percent.

Inland Fisheries: Capiz, the largest contributor with a 48.1 percent share, saw a reduction of 69.7 percent. Negros Occidental and Aklan reported declines of 37.4 percent and 75.4 percent, respectively.

Economic Impact

The total value of fisheries production for the region in the first quarter of 2024 was valued at 6.45 billion pesos, a significant 28.3 percent decline from the 9.00 billion pesos recorded in the same period of the previous year.

Municipal fisheries, which had the largest share of the total value at 38.9 percent, decreased by 34.5 percent. Commercial fisheries, making up 32.9 percent of the total value, fell by 13.2 percent, and aquaculture, with a 28.2 percent share, decreased by 33.3 percent.