December 7, 2009
Philippines aquaculture grows five percent in Q3
Aquaculture in the Philippines registered a 4.95-percent growth in the third quarter, despite a decline in production.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) dispersed more fingerlings and established nurseries to offset the lower fishery output, according to Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) director Romeo Recide.
The expansion of production areas, good water supply, high demand for certain species, favourable weather conditions and good management practices were among the factors that led to the growth, said Recide.
Aquaculture production during the third quarter was estimated at 496,701 tonnes, up by 23,427 tonnes from the same period last year. Aquaculture accounted for 46.1 percent of total fisheries production for the third quarter.
Fins and shellfishes accounted for 34.97 percent of the aquaculture production in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), while seaweeds presented the remaining 65.03 percent.
Recide also noted that Calabarzon, Western Visayas and ARMM registered the highest levels of increases in aquaculture production.
