February 9, 2012

Philippines reports production rise in Region 2 Fisheries for 2011

The Philippines Bureau of Agricultural Statistics has reported a 4.05% growth in Region 2's (Cagayan Valley Region) fisheries production for 2011.

Production totalled to 64,878 tonnes, with the growth led by a big rebound from the aquaculture sub-sector. It can be recalled that the fisheries sector in Region 02 suffered from devastation wrought by El Niño, typhoons and a major flood in the past couple of years.

Aquaculture grew by almost 18% and accounted for more than a fifth of the over-all production. Aquaculture was followed by municipal sub-sector which grew by 2.76% and contributed 53% to overall production. The rest is accounted to the commercial sub-sector which registered a negative growth of 0.23%.

The growth in aquaculture is attributed to the availability of fingerlings as stock and to the generally good weather condition leading to increase in the number of fishponds and fish cages stocked and harvested.

Provincial percentage growth is led by Quirino which increased its production by 30%, followed by Isabela with 16%, Batanes 15%, Nueva Vizcaya with 12% and Cagayan almost flat at 1.43%. Bulk of production, though, came from Cagayan which contributed more than 80% to overall production.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that the growth in production correspondingly, has resulted to an increase in the fish sufficiency level of the region which stood at 54% for the year.