May 8, 2024

Philippines to bring in more than 20,000 tonnes of sea fish in Q4

The Philippines is set to import 25,000 tonnes of pelagic or sea fish in the last quarter of 2024.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said this is meant to ensure adequate fish supplies during the three-month closed fishing season that starts November 1 in waters northeast of Palawan and from November 15 in the Visayan Seas and Zamboanga Peninsula. The DA added that these areas are spawning grounds for fish like sardines and mackerel.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the imports are expected to arrive in the Philippines before January 15 next year.

Registered importers from the commercial fishing sector will get 80% of the import volume while the balance will go to fisheries associations and cooperatives, Laurel, Jr. said.

Importers could apply for sanitary and phytosanitary permits anytime after the effectivity of the DA's order to import fish but will only be valid between September 1 and November 30.

Frozen fish could only be released to the market from October 1, while the last batch of imported fish must arrive no later than January 15, 2025, Laurel, Jr. said.

Last year, the Philippines also imported 35,000 metric tons of various types of pelagic species of fish, including galunggong. In 2022, the country imported 25,000 metric tons of fish for wet markets.

The Philippines has been turning to importing food products like fish, meat, rice and other grains to keep prices down and inflation in check.

- ABS CBN News