In the second quarter 2023, the Ilocos Region recorded 1,331.39 metric tons production from commercial fishing. Its output was 9.35 percent less than the output in the second quarter 2022. The decline in output in Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan pulled down the region's growth. The only province with a positive growth rate was La Union, with 55.79 percent.

Ilocos Sur’s Commercial Fisheries Production Drop by More Than Half

Ilocos Sur, drove down the region's overall production. In the second quarter 2023, the province's commercial fisheries production had a remarkable loss of around 71.60 percent, from 101.52 metric tons in 2022 to 28.83 metric tons. Pangasinan registered at 9.46 percent down trend in production this 2023.

Roundscad was the Top Species in the Ilocos Region during the Second Quarter 2023

Roundscad, also known as galunggong, dominated fish species in terms of volume during the second quarter 2023. It recorded 376.17 metric tons, or 24.59 percent of the output in the region. Skipjack at 15.53 percent, followed by yellowfin tuna at 15.47 percent. Meanwhile, the remaining 44.42 percent was shared by other species.

Six of the top ten species collected in commercial waters: the yellowfin tuna, big-eyed scad, bigeye tuna, threadfin tuna, slipmouth, and goatfish showed increases in production.

In Ilocos Sur, roundscad supplied the majority of the commercial fisheries production in second quarter 2023 with 15.00 metric tons, or 52.03 percent of the total. With 7.43 metric tons, or 25.77 percent of the province's production, yellowfin tuna came in second. Skipjack contributed 6.40 metric tons, or 22.20 percent, of the total.

Both roundscad and skipjack declined by more than half at 69.90 percent and 86.26 percent, respectively. On the other hand, yellowfin tuna’s production grew by 45.40 percent.

La Union's commercial fisheries recorded 154.45 metric tons in the second quarter 2023. Slipmouth, with a contribution of 13.94 percent to the output, produced around 21.52 metric tons. Threadfin bream accounting for 11.0 percent or 16.99 metric tons. However, goatfish contributed 9.73 percent (15.03 metric tons)

With the exception of hairtail, which had a decrease in catch to 5.57 metric tons from 6.24 metric tons, all top fish species in La Union recorded increases in output coupled with the presence of roundscad and yellowfin tuna.

Commercial fisheries in Pangasinan recorded 1,148.11 metric tons in the second quarter 2023. Roundscad, accounted 309.93 metric tons, represented around 26.99 percent of province's total commercial fisheries output. Skipjack and yellowfin tuna came noted to have 199.69 and 196.35 metric tons, respectively.

The production of big-eyed scad indicates 6,729.03 percent rise in volume for big-eyed scad production compared to the same quarter 2022. Bigeye tuna also had a growth of 253.37 percent. Increases in these species did not pulled up the overall commercial fisheries of the province as the majority of the top species registered lower output compared to their respective levels in the second quarter 2022.

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