In third quarter 2023, the Ilocos Region's aquaculture produced 28.32 thousand metric tons. The volume was 8.5 percent less than the record of 30.96 thousand metric tons in the same period in 2022. All provinces in the region had a decline in their aquaculture production with Ilocos Sur having the greatest drop by 26.0 percent. LalUnion production decreased by 12.9 percent followed by Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte at 8.3 and 2.7 percent, respectively. (Table 1)

Bulk of the Ilocos Region’s Aquaculture Production came from Pangasinan

Pangasinan accounted for the majority of the volume of aquaculture produced in the region. About 96.8 percent of the region's total production, or 27.42 thousand metric tons, was produced in Pangasinan. La Union, on the other hand, reported 655.18 metric tons, or 2.3 percent of the region’s total production. On the other hand, the province of Ilocos Sur produced 200.43 metric tons (0.7 percent share), while Ilocos Norte’s production totaled 42.60 metric tons (0.2 percent share). (Figure 1)
 

Marine Cages Produced 80.2 Percent of the Region’s Aquaculture Production

Marine cage totaled 22.72 thousand metric tons, or 80.2 percent, of the region's aquaculture production of 28.32 thousand metric tons. Brackishwater fishpond ranked second to the top contributing aquafarm type at 4.8 thousand metric tons with a 17.1 percent share. This was followed by freshwater fishpond with a total production of 295.46 metric tons (1.043 percent share) and brackishwater pen at 294.49 metric tons (1.040 percent share). The other farms, including small farm reservoirs and oyster farms, provided 167.95 metric tons (0.7 percent). (Figure 2)
 

Top Aquafarms in Terms of Production in the Ilocos Region Pulled-down the Region’s Overall Production

Marine cage and brackishwater fishpond, the top contributors of the region’s aquaculture production, both decline in production at 7.4 percent and 18.9 percent, respectively. On the other hand, production in freshwater fishpond grew by 4.7 percent from 282.28 metric tons to 295.46 metric tons. Meanwhile, brackishwater pen production went up by 224.4 percent from 90.77 metric tons production in third quarter 2022. Overall, other aquafarms’ production improved by 117.0 percent from 77.39 metric tons (Table 2)

Milkfish Comprises the Bulk of Aquaculture Production

In third quarter 2023, almost all of the harvest in Ilocos Region’s aquafarms were Milkfish. The said species registered 30.19 thousand metric tons or 97.1 percent of the total production. At 420.63 metric tons or 1.5 percent, tilapia came in second. Meanwhile, tiger prawn and p.vannamei were the third and fourth top-farmed species at 241.34 metric tons (0.8 percent) and 104.99 metric tons (0.4 percent), respectively. Meanwhile, other species such as mudfish and oyster, produced 63.50 metric tons or 0.02 percent. (Figure 4)

Milkfish and Tiger Prawn Production Went Down in the Third Quarter 2023

The production of milkfish and tiger prawn in the third quarter of 2023 in the Ilocos Region posted decreases. Milkfish production went down by 8.9 percent, from 30.19 thousand metric tons in the third quarter of 2022 to 27.49 thousand metric tons in the same period in 2023. Similarly, tiger prawn production decreased by 10.3 percent from 268.95 metric tons to 241.34 metric tons. However, p.vannamei and tilapia registered increases at 250.0 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. (Table 3)

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