The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assured the public of adequate fish supply amid the expected increase in demand during the Lenten season.
BFAR said fishing grounds in the country have reopened after the periodic closure that allowed fish species to reproduce.
“We are in the peak season of fishing activity, so we expect to meet the high demand for fish during the Holy Week,” said Nazario Briguera, BFAR spokesperson, in a statement.
Briguera said while the unprecedented oil spill in Mindoro could reduce fish output in the region and nearby provinces, the incident cannot cause a “shortage of fish on a national scale.”
Briguera added expensive fuel costs and post-harvest losses continue to be among the major challenges of the sector.
“Oil prices are fluctuating… affect(ing) fishing activities, so BFAR is implementing a subsidy program and utilizing payao (fish cage) technology for small-scale fisherfolk,” Briguera said.
BFAR said current fish spoilage is between 25 and 40 percent because of the shortage in post-harvest equipment like blast freezer, ice making machines, cold storage warehouses and fish landing sites.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country produced about 4.34 million metric tons (MT) of fish in 2022 which is 2 percent higher than the local output in 2021 at 4.25 million MT.
