The Ilocos Region was able to produce 23,819.94 metric tons in its aquaculture subsector in the first quarter 2024. However, the production was lower by 7.9 percent compared to the 25,874.87 metric tons output in the same period in 2023.

The majority of the region's aquaculture production came from Pangasinan. It contributed 22,962.68 metric tons or 96.4 percent of the region's overall production. La Union followed with 564.89 metric tons, equivalent to 2.4 percent of the total production. Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte contributed 171.50 and 120.88 metric tons production, or 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

Ilocos Sur posted positive growth of 59.4 percent in aquaculture production in the first quarter 2024 from the 107.56 metric tons output in 2023 of the same period. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan declined in production by 31.4 percent, 23.6 percent, and 7.6 percent, respectively.

Marine cage compromised 69.5 percent of the total aquaculture production in the region in the first quarter 2024. However, the production went down from 17,905.57 metric tons in the first quarter of 2023 to 16,553.21 metric tons in the same period this year. Similarly, production in brackishwater fishpond and freshwater fishpond decreased by 10.2 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively. On the other hand, brackishwater cage and brackishwater pen have increased by 68.4 percent and 19.3 percent, respectively.

Milkfish, also known locally as bangus, accounted for 91.5 percent of the region's aquaculture production. The said species registered 21,797.78 metric tons which is lower than the 23,772.68 metric tons output in the first quarter. At 1,505.79 metric tons, tilapia came in second. The production is equivalent to 6.3 percent share to the regional output. Meanwhile, tiger prawn was the third top-farmed species in the region at 208.20 metric tons (0.9 percent). Oyster and P. vannamei shared 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Other species collectively shared 0.8 percent to the total aquaculture production of the region in the first quarter 2024.

The top four species in the aquaculture sector of the region in the first quarter 2024 posted production decreases. Milkfish production decreased by 8.3 percent. Similarly, tilapia, tiger prawn and oyster production decreased by 8.1 percent, 3.3 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively. On the other hand, P. vannamei production increased to 35.40 metric tons from the 12.26 metric tons record in the first quarter 2023.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN, CPA
Regional Director