According to figures from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquaculture (BFAR) municipal fisheries and aquaculture production went up 3.98 percent and 2.63 percent respectively. The bureau recent report revealed that municipal fisheries, which contributed about 31.48 percent to the total fisheries yield, produced 15,027 metric tons (MT) more this year compared to the same quarter last year.
BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. said that production in marine municipal fisheries went up by 3.34 percent or 11,381 MT while yields in inland municipal fisheries went up by 9.69 percent or 3,646 metric tons. It is also said that besides releasing young fish to communal bodies of water, increased yields were brought about by the distribution of water-based planting materials, the provision of assistance to fish growers on proper farm management, and other forms of technical assistance to boost productivity.
Sarmiento said that the prevailing weather conditions during the quarter enabled municipal fishermen to increase their fishing activities. On the other hand commercial fisheries experienced a 2.73 percent decline in output owing to high fuel prices, which led to a decline in fishing activities, and weather disturbances like strong winds and typhoons.
The report revealed that besides the fee exemption, President Arroyo has also directed the DA-BFAR and Department of Energy to work on other relief measures for stakeholders in the fishing industry, including providing fuel price discounts from Petron, which is partly owned by the government.
