TECHNICAL NOTES

 

• The Fisheries Production Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is divided into four (4) major fisheries surveys. These are the Quarterly Commercial Fisheries Survey (QCFS), Quarterly Municipal Fisheries Survey (QMFS), Quarterly Inland Fisheries Survey (QIFS) and Quarterly Aquaculture Survey (QAqS). The commercial and municipal fisheries surveys aim to provide quarterly data on volume and value of fish production by species, by region, and by province. The aquaculture survey is intended to generate quarterly data on volume and value of cultured species by environment, by type of aquafarm, by region, and by province.

• Concepts and Definitions:

  Aquaculture – fishery operation involving all forms of raising and culturing of fish and other fishery species in marine, brackish and freshwater environment. Examples are fishponds, fish pens, fish cages, mussel, oyster, seaweed farms and hatcheries.

  Aquafarm – the farming facilities used in the culture or propagation of aquatic species including fish, mollusk, crustaceans, and aquatic plants for purposes of rearing to enhance production.

  Brackishwater – mixture of seawater and freshwater with salinity that varies with the tide. Example are estuaries, mangroves, and mouths of rivers where seawater enters during high tide.

  Commercial Fishing – the catching of fish with the use of fishing boats with a capacity of more than three (3) gross tons for trade, business or profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing.

  Fisheries – all activities relating to the act or business of fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing aquatic resources and the fishery areas including the privilege to fish or take aquatic resources thereof (RA 8550).

  Fisheries Sector – the sector engaged in the production, growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing aquatic resources and fishing areas.

  Fish Cage – stationary or floating fish enclosure made of synthetic net wire/bamboo screen or other materials set in the form of an inverted mosquitonet (“hapa” type) with or without cover with all sides either tied to poles stakedto the water bottom or with anchored floats for aquaculture purposes.

  Fishing Gear – any instrument or device and its accessories utilized in taking fish and other fishery species.

  Fishing Grounds – areas in any body of water where fish and other aquatic resources congregate and become the target of capture.

• Fish Pen – an artificial enclosure constructed within a body of water for culturing fish and fishery/ aquatic resources made up of bamboo poles           closely arranged in an enclosure with wooden materials, screen or nylon netting to prevent an escape of fish.

• Fishpond – a body of water (artificial or natural) where fish and other aquatic products are cultured, raised or cultivated under controlled conditions. This is a land-based type of aquafarm. Note that the setting-up of fish cages in ponds does not make the operation of a fish cage and at the same time a fishpond.
• Freshwater – water without salt or marine origins, such as generally found in lakes, rivers, canals, dams, reservoirs, paddy fields, and swamps.
• Inland Municipal Fishing – the catching of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and all other aquatic animals and plants in inland water like lakes, rivers, dams, marshes, etc. using simple gears and fishing boats some of which are non- motorized with a capacity of three (3) gross tons or less; or fishing not requiring the use of fishing boats.
• Landing Center – a place where the fish catch and other aquatic products are unloaded and traded.
• Municipal Fishing – covers fishing operation carried out with or without the use of a boat weighing three (3) gross tons or less.