Fish production of Guimaras Province decreased by 9.35 percent in the 4th quarter of 2018 due to slow production in both municipal and aquaculture fisheries sub-sectors.
Fish yield in the final part of 2018 totaled 1,698.87 metric tons (MT) against 1,874.04 MT in the same period in 2017.
Municipal and Aquaculture fisheries sub-sectors productions have been on a decreasing trend for two comparative periods (Q4 2017-Q4 2018).
Municipal fishing includes fish caught in marine waters using fishing vessels of 3 gross tons or less, or fishing not requiring the use of fishing vessels and inland bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, dams, marshes, etc.
It weakened by 13.73 percent in the last quarter of 2018 at 944.90 MT, from 1,095.24 MT in the same period in 2017.
Likewise, the volume of fish production in Aquaculture subsector posted a slight decrease of 3.19 percent in the 4th quarter of 2018 with an estimated output of 753.97 MT, over its 2017 output at 778.80 MT.
Moreover, according to the gathered data, the total aquaculture production in 2018 is mainly comprised of milkfish with 561.80 MT (74.51%). Milkfish is mainly cultured in brackishwater fishponds, fish cages a and fish pens
Seaweeds production was estimated at 176.50 MT (23.41%) and tilapia with 12.23 MT (1.62%) produced from both brackish and freshwater environment.
Catfish, mud crab, white shrimp, endeavor prawn, and oyster contributed 0.46 percent to the total aquaculture output.
Meanwhile, 7 of the top 10 marine and aquaculture species in Guimaras Island posted production decrement in the 4th quarter 2018:
- Cavalla declined by 12.87 percent with an estimated volume of 95.75 MT from 109.89 MT in 2017;
- Anchovies dropped by 2.11 percent at 84.52 MT from 86.34 MT;
- Siganid totaled 47.03 MT, down by 36.21 percent from 2017 with an output of 73.73 MT;
- Snapper dropped to 46.33 MT from 51.12 MT in 2017;
- Blue Crab slowed down by 24.19 percent at 37.80 MT, from 49.86 MT in 2017;
- Grouper slowed down to 35.10 MT, a 36.98 percent slump from the 2017 output of 55.70 MT and;
- Porgies decreased to 26.55 MT, a 37.06 percent slide from the 42.18-MT output in the same quarter of 2017.
However, 3 species increased production in the 4th quarter of 2018:
- Fimbriated Sardines posted a 40.01 percent increment from 46.29 MT in the 4th quarter of 2017 to 64.81 MT a year after;
- Spanish Mackerel yield totaled 49.44 MT, from 42.02 MT in 2017 and;
- Hairtail recovered at 35.38 MT, posting a 45 percent increase against Q4 2017 output of 24.40 MT.
