The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported last week that modest growth was recorded for bangus, tilapia, mudcrab, catfish, seaweeds, oysters and mussels from July to September, reports MB.com.
The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) director, Romeo Recide told Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) dispersed more fingerlings and established nurseries to offset the general reduction of output for fisheries.
"The expansion of production areas, good water supply, the high demand for certain species, favourable weather conditions, and good management practices were also among the factors that led to the growth of the aquaculture sector in the third quarter," Mr Recide said.
Aquaculture production was estimated at 496,701.32 metric tons (MT) during the third quarter of 2009, up by 23,427.11 MT from the output during the same quarter last year. It accounted for about 46 per cent of total fisheries production for the third quarter.
The bulk of the yield of 128,689.16 MT was traced to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Seaweeds topped the gainers, with harvests accounting for 65 per cent of total aquaculture production, while fins and shellfishes accounted for 35 per cent.
"Calabarzon, Western Visayas and ARMM registered the highest levels of increases in aquaculture production," Mr Recide noted.
Aquaculture Registers Five Per Cent Growth
PHILIPPINES - Aquaculture registered a 4.95 percent expansion in the third quarter in contrast to the contraction of the total fisheries production for the same period.
