Aquaculture Industry in Northern Mindanao Still Growing

Aquaculture production, which accounts for 40 per cent of the total fishery production of the region grew by 7.4 percent, from 15,886.80 metric tons in last years second quarter to 17,059.01 metric tons in the same period this year.

Engr. Cecilio Y. Clarete, Chief Economic Development Specialist of NEDA-10 said that seaweeds production which grew by eight per cent to 11,883.64 metric tons has been the major contributor to the aquaculture industry.

Brackish water, whose production went up by seven per cent, followed next with 4,515.04 metric tons.

Clarete said both increases were due to the rising number of growers of alvarezii, expansion of harvest area of tiger prawn in Lanao del Norte and area planted in Camiguin, as well as good quality of milkfish stockings and resumption of some tiger prawn ponds in Misamis Occidental.

Conversely, commercial and municipal fishing in the region registered decreases offsetting the increase in aquaculture production and resulting to 42,480.31 metric tons total regional fishery production, a slight 0.04 per cent increase compared to the production volume last year.

Clarete said the 1.4 per cent decline in municipal fish production was due to lesser appearance of migratory and in-season species in Misamis Occidental and lesser unloading of flying fish, galunggong, brown squid, and yellow-fin tuna in Misamis Oriental.

The draining of part of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) reservoir which is a fishing ground in Bukidnon also adversely affected inland fishery, he added.

Commercial fishing trips, on the other hand, were hampered by unfavourable weather.

Clarete said one boat in Misamis Occidental was on dry dock for repair and maintenance and two boats in Misamis Oriental transferred fishing activities to Bohol while another boat was impounded at Talisayan due to encroachment in municipal waters.

Lesser appearance of schools of fish in Lanao del Norte and some in-season species like roundscad, fimbriated sardines and frigate tuna in Misamis Occidental further contributed to the negative performance of the commercial sector, explained Clarete.