Fisheries sector seen to drive agri growth

The fisheries sector will continue to be the primary growth driver for Philippine agriculture this year, with production target set at 5.34 million metric tons or a hefty 10-percent hike from the 2007 yield.

In a report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Malcolm Sarmiento said 2.701 million MT would come from the aquaculture sector; 1.157 million MT from commercial fisheries, and 1.48 million MT from municipal fishing.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao; the Mimaropa region of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan; the Zamboanga Peninsula; the CALABARZON provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon; and Western Visayas are expected to fuel the growth of the fisheries sector this year, Sarmiento said.

Yap pointed out that the fisheries sector has consistently been the biggest gainer in terms of growth in the first three quarters of 2007, with the expansion of the sector posting an impressive 7.92-percent growth from July to September 2007.

Fourth quarter production for 2007 is estimated to reach 1.428 million MT or a surplus of 773,000 MT, Sarmiento said.

Yap said the establishment of environment-friendly systems such as mariculture parks; expansion of seaweed farming; farming of high-value species such as abalone, sea urchins and sea cucumbers, and P. vannamei or Pacific white shrimp; more aggressive enforcement of anti-poaching and illegal fishing and sustained resource conservation efforts, would help sustain the growth of the sector in 2008.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has listed the Philippines as No. 8, up from No. 11, among the top fish-producing countries in the world.

Tuna is the Philippines’ top export to the USA, Japan, China and the European Union.

The Philippines is also the world’s second largest producer of seaweeds, with production reaching 1.39 million MT or 11.6 percent of the total world production of 12 million MT.