ILOILO City – Western Visayas is 114 percent fish sufficient, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
There is no possibility of fish shortage, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 director Remia Aparri said.
The region’s fish supply is sourced from the Visayan Sea, Panay Gulf, Guimaras Strait, and the Sulu Sea.
“So far we haven’t experienced fish shortage in the region. We can provide for our needs,” she said.
The region is even capable of exporting supplies to regions experiencing fish shortage, said Aparri.
Last year, she said through the “Oplan Isda” that was launched amid the pandemic, fish-sufficient regions sent supplies to Metro Manila.
The mobilization was funded by the central office for fish-sufficient regions to be able to send stocks to areas with shortages.
“Based on the budget that was provided to us, we sent around 10 metric tons consisting of various species such as bangus and other pelagic species, which are most in-demand in Metro Manila,” said Aparri.
“Oplan Isda” of BFAR-6 continues and was even sustained by fish-sufficient regions in Luzon where transportation is not a problem.
She added that the “Oplan Isda” can already be considered part of the interventions of BFAR to augment regions that do have enough fish supply.
The current importation, Aparri said, does not cover the whole country but mostly the National Capital Region.
“When there is no importation, it is an advantage for our commercial and even municipal fishers because we use to trade fishes coming from our region. It has something to do with steady market that will provide them with income,” she said. (PNA)
