July 14, 2010

Philippine 2010 fisheries output to grow despite El Nino                 

Despite the El Nino phenomenon that ravaged the fisheries subsector during the first half of the year, Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) expects fisheries production to grow by 8% for the whole of 2010.

BFAR director Malcolm I. Sarmiento said this assumption factors in the consideration that no strong typhoons will plague the Philippines for the rest of the year.

The BFAR chief noted that seaweed and fin fisheries production will prop up aquaculture production for the year.

He said that mariculture parks will contribute significantly to the subsector's performance as one of the country's adaptation mechanisms against climate change.

The mariculture-park concept is similar to an industrial estate where an area in the sea is subdivided into different plots for the farming of fish and other aquatic life using only approved and environmentally-sound culture systems.

The fisheries subsector has been buoying farm growth in recent years. But production in January to March was down by 0.63% due to the extensive damage caused by El Niño.

The subsector accounted for almost 25% of total farm output in the first quarter. Aquaculture posted a 0.36% output increase.  Commercial and municipal fisheries registered production decreases of 3.5% and 0.15%, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sarmiento is hopeful that with the onset of the rainy season, red-tide toxins will no longer infest Philippine waters.

Recently, BFAR declared that shellfish and alamang (small shrimp) collected from Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Sasmar; and Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental are not safe for human consumption after red-tide toxin was found in the marine species.