Wednesday, August 15, 2007 Fisheries production up 35% in 1st semester By Joy Romares-Sevilla
FISHERIES production in Davao Region increased by 34.91 percent during the first semester of the year as compared to the same period last year, the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) 11 reported.
Bfar reported that the region produced 32,161 metric tons of species from the commercial, municipal, and aquaculture sub-sectors from January to June, this year.
The figure, Bfar said, is higher by 34.91 percent compared to the first six months of 2006 pegged at 23,838 metric tons.
The commercial sub-sectors posted a 45.49 percent increase for the period while municipal sub-sector recorded an increase of 47.35 percent.
However, only the aquaculture sub-sector was noted to have decreased by 1.05 percent.
Bfar said the decrease in production in the aquaculture sub-sector was mainly due to the heavy rains that the region experienced during the first quarter of the year.
The aquaculture during this period posted a 4.9 percent decrease compared to the figure in the first quarter of 2006.
In the second quarter alone, an increase of 16.43 percent was also recorded in fisheries production.
All sub-sectors for the period posted increases. The production from the commercial sub-sector grew by 10.1 percent compared to the figure in the second quarter of 2006, municipal had an increase of 24.14, while aquaculture already gained a 4.97 increase in production.
On the other hand, to further improve the production of species from aquaculture, Bfar has dispersed 200,000 pieces of bangus, 523,500 pieces of tilapia, and 50,000 pieces of hito in the different areas in the region -- Panabo, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Sto. Tomas, New Corella, and Kapalong in Davao del Norte; Malalag, Hagonoy, Sta. Maria, Padada, Digos and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur; Nabunturan, Montevista, Monkayo, and New Bataan in Compostela Valley; and Mati in Davao Oriental.
Bfar said the dispersal activities for the semester were conducted in these areas that were affected by the heavy rains.
