Guimaras’ fish yield up 7.35% in 2019

Guimaras’ fish production gained 7.35 percent to 8,355.30 metric tons (MT) in 2019 compared to 7,783.47 MT in 2018 due to positive outputs in both municipal and aquaculture fisheries sub-sectors.

Municipal fisheries (which include fish catch in marine waters with the use of fishing vessels of 3 gross tons or less, or fishing not requiring the use of fishing vessels, fish catch in inland bodies of water such as, rivers, lakes, dams, marshes, etc.) posted a positive output of 5,209.61 MT, an 11.45 percent escalation over its 2018 production.

The 2019, output, however was lower by 16.78 percent compared to its 2017 output of 5,616.64 MT.

“Despite of the recovery in 2019, the 5,209.61 MT output is still short by 407.03 MT compared to 2017 which registered the highest yield of 5,616.64 MT,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

Moreover, volume of aquaculture production continued to rise to 3,145.70 MT in 2019 from 3,027.19 MT in 2017 and 3,109.19 MT in 2018.

A 2.71 percent growth was posted in 2017 to 2018. However, from 2018 to 2019, only 1.17 percent growth was registered.

According to the gathered data, the total aquaculture production in 2019 was mainly shared by milkfish and seaweeds comprising 75.19 percent and 23.06 percent, respectively.

Milkfish cultured in brackish water fishpond, fish cage and fish pens produced 2,365 MT, while seaweeds shared 725.44 MT.

Tilapia captured from both brackish and freshwater environments produced 35.10 metric tons. Other species such as mud crab, oyster, catfish, white shrimp, endeavor prawn, spiny lobster, grouper, tiger prawn and some other species gave in 0.63 percent (19.96 MT).