Guimaras’ aquaculture fishing gains 7.09 pct in Q1 2021

Aquaculture fishing in Guimaras grew by 7.09 percent during the first quarter (Q1) of 2021 after a 859.07-metric ton (MT) production, according to the Quarterly Fisheries Survey (QFS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“The aquaculture fishery production in Q1 2021 is higher by 56.89 MT than the 802.18 MT produced in Q1 2020 but when compared to Q1 2019, a decrement of 6.20 percent or 53.03 MT was seen,” Provincial Statistical officer, Nelida B. Losare said.

Milkfish cultured in brackishwater fishpond, fish cages, and fish pens was the major contributor to aquaculture fishing, comprising 58.72 percent of the total aquaculture or a 504.44-MT contribution to the provincial total.

“Other contributors are Seaweeds chipping in 40.05 percent (344.06 MT); Tilapia produced both from brackish and freshwater environments shared 0.80 percent (6.84 MT), and other species which include, oyster, catfish, mud crab, spiny lobster, white shrimp, endeavour prawn, and tiger prawn contributed 3.73MT,” Losare said.

Losare also explained that aquaculture is one of the sub-sectors of Guimaras fishery which accounted for a third of the total fish production of the province for January-March.

Municipal fishing accounted for two-thirds of the provincial yield.

“The Municipal Fishing during Q1 production gained 1.82 percent from 1,549.30 MT output in Q1 2020 to 1,577.51 MT in Q1 2021,” she said.

Of the total municipal fisheries output in Q1 2021, 97.90 percent came from marine fisheries and the remaining 2.10 percent were from the inland fisheries sub-sector.

In totality, Guimaras’ fish production for the1st quarter of the years 2019-2021 showed erratic movements wherein Q1 2020 recorded the least production while Q1 2021 posted the highest produce with 3.62 percent growth over the Q1 2020. (See Figure 2)

“Production in Q1 2020 recorded at 2,351.48 metric tons is lower by 3.14 percent over its previous year level of 2,427.59 MT. Production decrement in Q1 2020 was influenced by negative outputs in all fisheries sub-sectors,” Losare said.