The commercial fisheries production in the Ilocos Region was posted at 4,758.91 metric tons in 2022. This output increased by 8.88 percent over the 2021 production of 4,370.86 metric tons.

Production in Pangasinan went up to 3,887.25 metric tons from 2,700.83 metric tons in 2021. La Union had the highest percent decrease of 48.90 percent from the 1,326.40 metric tons output in 2021 to 677.73 metric tons output in 2022. Ilocos Sur had 193.44 metric tons output, lower by 43.56 percent from the record in 2021.

In the 2022 commercial fisheries production, Pangasinan accounted for 81.68 percent of the region’s production. La Union followed 14.24 percent, and Ilocos Sur with 4.08 percent share.

According to species, about 27.58 percent of the region’s commercial fisheries production was roundscad, followed by skipjack at 17.68 percent. Meanwhile, yellowfin tuna contributed 12.27 percent. Other fish species shared 42.47 percent of the output.

Among the top fifteen species caught in commercial waters, frigate tuna, known as tulingan among locals, grew in volume of production by 503.44 percent from 96.54 metric tons in 2021 to 582.56 metric tons in 2022. Roundscad, yellowfin tuna, and eastern little tuna also posted volume increases of 49.27 percent, 70.78 percent, and 88.87 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the rest of the fish species registered decreases in production where indo-pacific mackerel had the highest decrease at 72.09 percent.

Skipjack or Gulyasan contributed most of the commercial fisheries production in Ilocos Sur at 88.41 metric tons covering 45.59 percent of the output. Roundscad closely matched skipjack’s production at 85.44 metric tons, equivalent to 44.05 percent. Meanwhile, yellowfin tuna ranked third and shared 10.02 percent, or 19.43 metric tons. Other fish species covered 0.34 percent.

The production of commercial fish species in La Union in 2022 was 677.73 metric tons. About 7.93 percent of the production was threadfin bream at 53.75 metric tons. The other top fish species caught during the period were goatfish, and hairtail at 47.30 metric tons, and 38.20 metric tons, respectively. Other commercial fish species collectively produced 538.48 metric tons, 79.45 percent of the province output.

In Pangasinan, roundscad had the highest volume of production in commercial fisheries at 1,227.16 metric tons or 31.57 of the total catch in 2022. Skipjack ranked second with 752.90 metric tons of production or 19.37 percent. Meanwhile, frigate tuna (579.78 metric tons) contributed 14.91 percent of the output. Other commercial fish species recorded 1,327.41 metric tons or 34.15 percent.

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