Western Visayas fisheries output up 6.5% in 2025

The fisheries sector in Western Visayas rebounded in 2025, with total production rising 6.5 percent year-on-year to 311,402 metric tons (MT), according to preliminary data released Feb. 10, 2026 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office VI.

The increase of about 19,031 MT from 292,371 MT in 2024 was driven by strong gains in aquaculture and municipal fisheries, which offset a sharp contraction in commercial fishing.

Aquaculture production climbed 14.5 percent to 214,259 MT in 2025 from 187,156 MT in 2024, accounting for 68.8 percent of the region’s total fisheries output.

Municipal fisheries production also expanded by 13.4 percent to 53,902 MT from 47,512 MT, contributing 17.3 percent to the total volume.

In contrast, commercial fisheries output dropped 25.1 percent to 43,242 MT in 2025 from 57,703 MT in 2024, reducing its share to 13.9 percent of total production.

The PSA noted that the special release excludes data for Negros Occidental following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12000, or the “Negros Island Region Act,” which reorganized regional coverage.

Among aquaculture-producing provinces, Capiz posted the largest gain, with output surging 48.2 percent to 130,309 MT in 2025 from 87,956 MT in 2024, representing 60.8 percent of the region’s aquaculture production.

Iloilo increased aquaculture output by 16.8 percent to 8,189 MT from 7,011 MT, while Guimaras grew by 20.4 percent to 3,378 MT from 2,805 MT.

Antique, which accounted for 32.5 percent of aquaculture production, recorded a 19.3 percent decline to 69,629 MT from 86,245 MT, while Aklan’s output fell 12.2 percent to 2,755 MT from 3,139 MT.

Marine municipal fisheries production rose 13.6 percent to 52,687 MT in 2025 from 46,366 MT in 2024, an increase of about 6,320 MT.

Aklan led growth in marine municipal fisheries with a 35.4 percent increase to 11,249 MT from 8,310 MT, followed by Iloilo with a 28.4 percent rise to 11,106 MT from 8,647 MT.

Capiz expanded by 21.7 percent to 7,150 MT from 5,877 MT, and Guimaras grew 23.3 percent to 4,417 MT from 3,583 MT, while Antique declined 5.9 percent to 18,766 MT from 19,949 MT.

Inland municipal fisheries production increased 6.1 percent to 1,215 MT in 2025 from 1,146 MT in 2024, equivalent to an additional 69 MT.

Aklan recorded a 160.0 percent surge in inland fisheries to 428 MT from 165 MT, while Capiz declined 18.9 percent to 577 MT from 711 MT, Iloilo fell 24.4 percent to 92 MT from 122 MT, Antique decreased 22.3 percent to 70 MT from 91 MT, and Guimaras dropped 17.2 percent to 47 MT from 57 MT.

All provinces posted reductions in commercial fisheries production in 2025.

Capiz, which accounted for 30.9 percent of commercial output, declined 20.2 percent to 13,377 MT from 16,753 MT, while Iloilo, with a 29.1 percent share, fell 7.3 percent to 12,587 MT from 13,583 MT.

Antique’s commercial production dropped 13.3 percent to 12,265 MT from 14,152 MT, and Aklan recorded the steepest fall at 62.1 percent to 5,013 MT from 13,215 MT.

Guimaras remains the only province in Western Visayas without a commercial fisheries landing center, the PSA said.

In terms of value, total fisheries production reached PHP 31.46 billion in 2025, up 25.9 percent or about PHP 6.47 billion from PHP 24.99 billion in 2024.

Aquaculture accounted for 57.1 percent of the total value at PHP 17.98 billion, a 59.6 percent increase from PHP 11.26 billion in 2024.

Municipal fisheries contributed 24.7 percent valued at PHP 7.76 billion, up 18.2 percent from PHP 6.57 billion the previous year.

Marine municipal fisheries were valued at PHP 7.62 billion, rising 18.5 percent from PHP 6.43 billion, while inland municipal fisheries reached PHP 141.95 million, up 3.1 percent from PHP 137.69 million.

Commercial fisheries value declined 20.0 percent to PHP 5.73 billion in 2025 from PHP 7.16 billion in 2024, representing 18.2 percent of total fisheries value.

The top five species by volume of production in 2025 were seaweed at 126,658 MT, milkfish at 69,870 MT, oyster at 12,178 MT, roundscad at 7,216 MT, and squid at 6,524 MT.

PSA defined aquaculture as operations involving all forms of raising and culturing fish and other fishery species in marine, brackish and freshwater under controlled conditions.

Marine municipal fisheries cover fishing operations carried out without the use of a boat or with boats of three gross tons or less, while inland municipal fisheries refer to the catching of fish and other aquatic species in inland waters such as lakes, rivers and dams.

Commercial fisheries, meanwhile, involve fishing operations using boats of more than three gross tons, with production measured based on unloading in landing centers.