The overall fisheries production in Ilocos Regionwent upby 3.72percent in 2^ndquarter 2019. From the total output of36,804metric tons in 2^ndquarter 2018, it increased to 38,173 metric tons this year. All the provinces, except Ilocos Norte, recorded higher output.

The commercial and aquaculture subsectors registered higher production in 2^ndquarter 2019 compared with their levels a year ago. The aquaculture subsector contributed 81.32percent to the total fisheries output. Themunicipal fisheries accounted for 14.04 percent while the commercial subsector shared 4.64 percent.

In terms of provincial distribution, the province of Pangasinan shared the bulk of production in the region of about 76.55percent.The overall volume of production of the province wasposted at 29,222metric tons, or 2.65percent higherthan its production in the same period of 2018. The commercial and aquaculture sub-sectors posted increases in output, while the municipal sub-sector output went down.

La Union ranked second in terms of production during the period. It accounted for 13.91 percentto the total volume of production in the region. Itsfisheries output grew from 5,245 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2018 to 5,311 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2019. The increased production in commercial and aquaculture subsectors contributed to the overall positive performance of the province.

Ilocos Sur recorded higher fishery production in 2^nd 2019 compared with its level in 2^nd quarter 2018. The output was registered at 2,346 metric tons, higher by 35.86percent than its production a year ago of 1,727 metric tons. All the three subsectors contributed to the overall increase in the fisheries output of the province.

Ilocos Norte, which had the least percent share of 3.39 percent to the total fisheries production of Ilocos Region I in 2^nd quarter 2019, recorded lower fisheries production compared with its level in the same period a year ago. From 1,364 metric tons production, it went down to 1,293 metric tons attributed by the decline in the output of the municipal subsector.

Commercial Fisheries

The commercial fisheries volume of production in Ilocos Regionwas posted at 1,772 metric tons in 2^ndquarter 2019. The output was higher than the level in 2^ndquarter 2018 of 742metric tons. All the three provincescontributed to the increase. Abundant catch of most of the fishes was attributed to more fishing operations brought by late occurrence of monsoon trough.

In terms of provincial shares, Pangasinan accounted for 76.40 percent of the region’s commercial fisheries volume of production in 2^ndquarter 2019. La Union followed with 14.84 percent shareand Ilocos Sur with 8.76 percent share.

The top five major catch in the region during the 2^ndquarter 2019 were Roundscad, Frigate tuna, Skipjack, Yellowfin tuna, and Threadfin bream.

Municipal Fisheries

The overall municipal fisheries production of Ilocos Regionwent down by 2.37percent in 2^ndquarter 2019. The production was posted at 5,361 metric tons, lower than the output in 2^ndquarter 2018 of 5,491 metric tons. The decline inmarine municipal fisheries contributed tothe overall decrement in production of the subsector.

Marine Municipal

Production of Marine Municipal Fisheries in Ilocos Region declined in 2^nd quarter 2019.  Its output was postedat 4,952 metric tons, lower than the output in the same period of 2018 at 5,106metric tons. All the provinces of the region, except Ilocos Sur, contributed to the overall reduction in output. Fishermen were discouraged to go fishing due to the presence of foreign fishing vessels coupled with hot temperature that resulted to lesser fishing days and trips. Limited catch near the shoreline was also noted. 

The province of Pangasinan contributed 43.94 percent to the region’s marine municipal fish catch in 2^ndquarter 2019. It was followed by Ilocos Surwith 29.06 percent share, Ilocos Norte with 20.78 percent share, and La Union with 6.22 percent share.

The dominant catch in marine municipal fisheries of Ilocos Region during the period were Roundscad, Squid, Yellowfin tuna, Cavalla, and Threadfin bream.

Inland Municipal Fisheries

Production of Inland Municipal Fisheries in Ilocos Region grew in 2^nd quarter 2019. From the output of 385 metric tons in the same period last year, it went up to 408metric tons this year. The provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur contributed to the overall increment in output. More catch in fish shelters and corrals particularly in April was noted due to high demand of fish during the Lenten season. In addition, more fishing days by sustenance fishermenwere recorded for home consumption and sustained demand in the market.Also, shallow water in rivers facilitated easier fishing.

By province, Ilocos Sur ranked first in volume of production of Inland Municipal Fisheries during the 2^ndquarter 2019 with 51.74 percent share. Pangasinan followed with 23.45 percent share, Ilocos Norte with 17.83 percent share, and La Union with 6.98 percent share.

The top five major catch in the region during the period were Tilapia, Blue crab, Freshwater shrimp, Mullet and Freshwater goby.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture production in Ilocos Regionwas posted at 31,040 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2019. This is higher than the production of same quarter last year at 30,571 metric tons.More and bigger sizes were harvested due to good water parameters. There was also increased stocking rate due to availability of fingerlings. All provinces posted positive growth in output.

The province of Pangasinan shared the bulk of aquaculture production in 2^ndquarter 2019 with 82.46 percent share. La Union shared 15.18 percent, while Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte shared 1.74 percent and 0.62 percent, respectively. By culture type, aquaculture in Ilocos Region was dominated by Brackishwaterfishpond which accounted for 38.94 percent of the total production.

By species, milkfish shared 56.41 percent to the total aquaculture production of Ilocos Region in 2^nd quarter 2019. Its production during the period was registered at 17,510metric tons, higher than its output in the same quarter last year of 17,226metric tons. Bigger sizes of produce was observed due to good water parameters, coupled with additional area harvested.  Bulk of milkfish production came from the province of Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Tilapia was second in terms of volume of production in aquaculture production during the 2^nd quarter 2019 with a share of 40.95 percent. Its total output during the period was posted at 12,711metric tons, higher than the 12,631metric tons production in 2^nd quarter 2018. Bigger sizes of produce was harvesteddue to good water parameters.  Pangasinan was the main producer of Tilapia during the period.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The Fisheries Production Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is divided into four 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 surveyis 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 mosquito net (“hapa” type) with or without cover with all sides either tied to poles staked to 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 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 gross tons or less.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN

(Chief Administrative Officer)

Officer-in-Charge