The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released the 2006 Census of Philippine Business and Industry which revealed that local ocean commercial fishing companies generated the highest revenue in the fishing industry worth P11.5 billion. It also showed that ocean commercial fishing companies, with vessels of over three tons, was the top earner and accounted for 80 percent of the total earnings of the fishing industry.
The report also said that other subsectors of the industry, such as catching fish crabs and crustaceans in inland waters and fishpond operations, except fish breeding farms and nurseries, placed second with P1.2 billion or 10.8 percent of the total, while pearl culture was the third top earner with only P0.6 billion, or 4.9 percent of the aggregate revenue of the industry.
It is said that in 2006 there were a total of 431 establishments, engaged in fishing activities. More than 50 percent, or 283 establishments, were with an average total employment (ATE) of less than 20, while the remaining 148 establishments, or 34.3 percent, were establishments, with an ATE of 20 and over.
The total operating cost for the fishing sector amounted to P9.4 billion. Ocean commercial fishing, using vessels over 3 tons, incurred the highest cost with P7.4 billion or 79.3 percent. Commenting on this NSO said the cost of materials, fuels and electricity consumed and industrial services done by others reached P8 billion, representing 85 percent of total cost.
