So-called fish catch across all regional fish ports showed a 21.8 percent annual decline in March this year, according to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).
The PFDA said the fish unloading volume in March 2023 totaled only 46,935.07 metric tons (MT) compared with the year ago volume of 59,988.98 MT.
On a month-to-month basis, the March unloading volume is 43.56 percent higher that in February when this aggregated 32,694.01 MT.
The agency said the month-on-month increase was traced to favorable circumstances in March at the onset of the dry season with generally fair weather conditions and calmer seas proving more supportive of fishing activities.
Among regional fish ports included in PFDA monitoring are Bulan in Sorsogon; Sual in Pangasinan; General Santos; Davao; Zamboanga; Lucena in Quezon Province; Iloilo; and Navotas.
Department of Agriculture monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region show the prevailing retail price of P150 to P220 per kilogram for milkfish; P100 to P160 for tilapia; P160 to P260 for local galunggong; P180 to P200 for imported galunggong; and P280 to P360 for alumahan.
