Monday, April 28, 2008 Fisheries production to increase by 9%
FISHERIES production in the country is projected to yield 5.3 million metric tons this year, with Mindanao expected to contribute more than a third, a senior government official in General Santos City said in a bid to allay fears of fish food shortage in the nation.
Earlier, the Kilusang Mangingisda, which is composed of 14 fisherfolk federations, warned the country to brace for a "worsening fish food production deficit" due to growing population, over fishing and unsustainable aquaculture practices.
Benjamin F.S. Tabios Jr., Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) assistant director for administrative services, said they projected fisheries production to grow by 9 percent -- from 4.9 million metric tons last year to 5.3 million metric tons this year.
Based on data he provided, Mindanao's contribution to the national fisheries production will reach 2.2 million metric tons, or 41.5 percent of the projected national output for 2008.
The aquaculture sector is expected to contribute at least half of the country's annual fisheries production target, with the main drivers as tilapia, bangus, shrimps/pawns and seaweeds. Seaweed production is expected to yield 1.8 million metric tons this year.
"We're redirecting our fish food security efforts from marine capture to aquaculture, especially among our municipal fishers," Tabios said early this week.
Ruperto B. Aleroza, chairperson of Kilusang Mangingisda, has raised the alarm on fish food shortage in the country, citing data from the Comprehensive National Fishery Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP). CNFIDP showed an expected increase in the demand for fish from 2.6 million metric tons in 2005 to 4.2 million metric tons by 2025.
"This increase is based on the individual Filipino's average yearly fish consumption of 31.4 kilos multiplied by 135 million Filipinos, the expected population by 2025 at a yearly growth rate of 2.36 percent," he explained.
The CNFIDP is a strategic fisheries development plan by the government and various stakeholders in the domestic fisheries sector. (BSS)
