Q2 fishery production in Eastern Visayas drops by 20.7%

By PSA-8
August 17, 2018

TACLOBAN CITY – Fishery production in Eastern Visayas dropped by 20.7% from 34,200 metric tons (MT) in the second quarter of 2017 to 27,124 MT in the second quarter of 2018.

All provinces registered decreases in fishery production, except Biliran and Southern Leyte, which recorded increases of 1.6% and 7.6%, respectively from their levels of production in the same quarter in 2018. Leyte recorded the highest decrease of 37.5%, from 8,292MT in the second quarter of 2017 to 5,185 MT during the quarter in review.

Among provinces, Samar produced the highest volume of fishery production at 8,636 MT, which comprised 31.8% of the total fishery production in the region. Eastern Samar ranked second with 6,003 MT, which accounted for 22.1% of the region’s total fishery production. Biliran, meanwhile registered the lowest volume of production with 5.7% share or 1,538 MT.

By subsector, volume of production in Commercial Fishing went down by 28.0%, from 3,934 MT in the second quarter of 2017 to 2,833 MT in the same period in 2018. All provinces registered decreases, except Biliran, the only province that recorded a slight increase of 2.2%. Southern Leyte recorded the highest decrease of 73.9%, from 367 MT in the second quarter of 2017 to 96 MT during the quarter in review.

Similarly, volume of production in Municipal Fishing (marine and inland) registered a decrease of 20.5%, from 22,939 MT in the second quarter of 2017 to 18,238 MT in the same quarter in 2018. All provinces registered decreases, except Biliran and Southern Leyte, which posted increases of 1.4% and 38.3%, respectively. Leyte registered the highest decrease in volume of production at 55.1%.

Volume of production in Aquaculture also declined by 17.4%, from 7,328 MT in the second quarter of 2017 to 6,052 MT in the same period in 2018. Among provinces, only Biliran and Northern Samar registered growths in production of 20.4% and 21.9%, respectively. However, the increases were negated by the decreases recorded by Eastern Samar (41.9%), Leyte (21.1%), Southern Leyte (47.4%) and Samar (15.1%).

About two-thirds or 67.2% (18,238 MT) of the total fishery production in the region were from Municipal Fishing. Aquaculture contributed 22.3% (6,052 MT), while Commercial Fishing accounted for 10.4% (2,833 MT).