Municipal Fisheries production accelerates by 2.53 percent

The total volume of production for municipal fisheries of Ilocos Region was estimated at 28,770.87 metric tons in 2021. It accelerated by 2.53 percent compared to the recorded production of 28,060.18 metric tons in 2020.

Ilocos Region’s municipal fisheries production showed an upward trend from 25,137.68 metric tons recorded in 2017 to the 28,770.87 metric tons in 2021. 

In terms of growth, La Union recorded 31.87 percent increment  in production. Likewise, Ilocos Sur posted an increase of 1.66 percent compared to last year’s level of 5,530.06 metric tons.  On the other hand, Ilocos Norte declined by 14.73 percent  and Pangasinan with 1.03 percent in municipal fisheries production.

By provincial production, Pangasinan has the biggest share  of 38.86 percent to the total municipal fisheries production. La Union contributed 23.50 percent, while 19.54 percent and 18.10 percent were shared by in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, respectively. 

Marine Municipal Fisheries

Marine municipal fisheries production in the region has an output  of 25,600.26 metric tons or 88.98 percent of the total municipal fisheries production in 2021. The said production posted a growth  of 0.88 percent from the 25,376.74 metric tons production in 2020.

Compared to 2020 output, municipal fish production of La Union  and Ilocos Sur in marine waters grew by 38.79 and 9.96 percent, respectively. On the other hand, decreases in production were noted  in Ilocos Norte by 15.32 percent and Pangasinan by 9.49 percent. 

By provincial production, Pangasinan has the biggest share  at 37.57 percent or 9,617.52 metric tons. La Union followed  at 23.69 percent, Ilocos Norte with 19.58 percent, and Ilocos Sur by 19.16 percent of the marine municipal fisheries production in the region.

The dominant marine species caught in 2021 were squid, yellowfin tuna, cavalla, roundscad, and skipjack. Production of squid was estimated  at 1,996.25 metric tons or 7.80 percent of the marine municipal production

in       the    region.        Yellowfin    tuna was   estimated  at 1,825.31 metric tons (7.13 percent) and cavalla has a production  of 1,610.34 metric tons (6.29 percent). Roundscad recorded  1,542.75 metric tons (6.03 percent) production, and skipjack  with a 1,279.24 metric tons (5.00 percent) output. 

Inland Fisheries Production

Inland municipal fisheries production in the region has an output  of 3,170.61 metric tons. It grew by 18.15 percent  from 2,683.44 metric tons output in 2020. The volume of inland fisheries production comprised 11.02 percent of the total municipal fisheries production in the region (Table 2).

Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte recorded positive growth in output  with 133.22 percent and 4.13 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Ilocos  Sur and La Union declined by 32.97 percent and 7.99 percent, respectively (Table 2). 

By provincial contribution to the regional production in inland waters, Pangasinan has the biggest share of 49.27 percent followed  by Ilocos Sur with 22.58 percent, La Union (22.02 percent) and Ilocos Norte (6.13 percent).

By classification of inland fisheries, fish contributed 2,121.94 metric tons or 66.92 percent of the total inland fisheries production, crustaceans  at 20.26 percent or 642. 30 metric tons, and molluscs at 12.82 percent  or 406.37 metric tons. 

By specie, tilapia recorded the largest output of 424.74 metric tons equivalent to 20.02 percent of the inland fisheries production.  This was followed by freshwater goby contributing 234.87 metric tons  or 11.07 percent, milkfish with a record of 145.34 metric tons  (6.85 percent), mullet by 61.33 metric tons (2.89 percent), and carp  with a production of 40.56 metric tons (1.91 percent).