Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the region showed that commercial fishing which accounted for 25 per cent of the total production went up by 5.2 per cent reaching 8,864.80 MT while municipal fishing declined by 1.05 per cent posting 9,575.55 MT of output this year.
Aquaculture, the region’s biggest source accounting for 48 per cent of the total fishery production, also went down by almost two per cent from 17,178.58 MT in the first quarter of 2012 to only 16,901.66 MT this year.
Commercial fishing increased because more fishing trips were undertaken in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, said Engr. Cecilio Clarete, chief economic development specialist of the Development Research Division of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in the region during the NEDA Media Forum on July 11.
He said more unloading of seasonal species like tamban and tunaoy in Misamis Occidental and increased volume of unloaded tamban and galunggong in Misamis Oriental also contributed to the increase.
Mr Clarete attributed the decrease in municipal fishing to the disturbances in the fishing grounds caused by the construction of a new bridge in Liangan, Maigo in Lanao del Norte, the damaged habitat of inland species in Bukidnon brought about by typhoon Pablo, and the accumulation of silt resulting from frequent flooding.
Meanwhile, the negative performance of aquaculture was caused by the decreased output of freshwater fishponds and marine fishcages.
Mr Clarete said these declines were due to limited supply of fingerlings which resulted to operation stoppage in Pantar and Baloi of Lanao del Norte.
Moreover, some fishponds in Bukidnon were damaged by typhoon Pablo which led ten operators in the province to temporarily stop their operation, he added.
