DESPITE being a landlocked region, Cordillera’s fish production has increased to 2,419.2 from 2,154 metric tons this year.
Philippine Statistics Authority Cordillera, in its quarterly inland and municipal quarterly aquaculture surveys, said the region posted a 12.3-percent increase during the first semester this year compared to the same period last year.
Ifugao province was consistent as the top producer with 1,425.2 MT accounting for 58.9 percent of the total fishery production in the region.
Abra came in second with 13.8 percent share, Benguet was third with 11.1 percent share, followed by Kalinga with 9.2 percent and Apayao with 6.7 percent.
Mountain Province contributed the smallest share at 0.3 percent.
In terms of percentage change in fishery production, Apayao posted the highest with 41.7 percent change, followed by Mountain Province with 21.6 percent and Benguet with 17 percent.
Cordillera municipal inland fishing output during the first semester of 2018 was 1,586 metric ton equivalent to 24.2 percent of the whole fish production.
Inland production or fishing in inland waters such as lakes, rivers and dams were topped by the provinces of Kalinga and Abra with 140.8 MT and 140.5 MT, respectively.
While for aquaculture, fishery operation composed of all forms of raising and culturing fish, Cordillera recorded 1,833 MT for an estimated harvest area of 290.6 hectares.
Aquaculture dominated the region’s fisheries accounting to 75.8 percent of the total fish production, adds PSA.
Ifugao has the highest production with 1,309 MT from an area harvested of 152.4 hectares followed by Benguet with 201.8MT with an area of 20.1 hectares while Mt. Province posted the lowest production with 5.5MT within 1.9 hectares.