MANILA -- Innovative ways of aquafarming is needed to ensure adequate supply of fish for Filipino consumers and to prevent fish prices from exacerbating inflation.
In an economic bulletin released Thursday, the Department of Finance (DOF) noted the dwindling fish production in the country.
Fisheries is divided into three sectors; aquaculture with the biggest share of at least 50 percent, followed by municipal with 26.2 percent, and commercial with 23.3 percent.
Share of growth of fisheries on domestic output has been on negative territory with a four percent drop in 2016, 0.9 percent drop the following year and 3.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Its drop started in 2011.
DOF said only the aquaculture posted a positive growth of 1.7 percent in 2017.
It traced the drop in fish production to climate change and cited as one of the factors the drought in 2015 and early 2016.
Fish production posted the biggest drop in 2016 with growth of -6.31 percent to 4.32 million metric tons.
“During El Nino episodes, water temperature rises thus inducing fish to move to colder, deeper waters. Also, rougher seas ensue as typhoons and monsoon rains intensify thus increasing the danger to fishing activities,” the bulletin said.
Thus, the bulletin said “advancement of technology to introduce innovative ways of aquafarming is important as aquaculture produces more than half of the total fish supply in the economy.”
“A comprehensive program to ensure sustainability of seafarming needs to be put in place. This should include, among others, appropriate environmental management,” it added. (PNA)
