Reports gathered by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the region show that the decline in commercial and municipal fisheries contributed to the negative performance of the fisheries sector.
Commercial fisheries dropped by nine per cent, from 39,853.61 metric tons in 2011 to only 36,205.35 metric tons in 2012 while municipal fisheries went down by almost three per cent from 43,128.28 metric tons to 42,073.26 metric tons.
Engineer Cecilio Y. Clarete, chief economic development specialist of NEDA-10, said the drop in commercial fisheries was greatly attributed to the occurrence of southwest monsoon and the dry-docking of five fishing vessels in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte.
He said there was also lesser appearance of some species while three commercial fishing vessels were under repair in Misamis Occidental during the fourth quarter of 2012.
On the other hand, the slowdown in the municipal fisheries was due to the destruction of some fishing boats in Lanao del Norte which was affected by typhoon Pablo, Mr Clarete further said.
