ILOILO City – Western Visayans need not fret. There is no shortage of fish in the region, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The bureau’s regional office issued the assurance amid reports that the Department of Agriculture (DA) would allow the importation of nearly 40,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen fish and aquatic products in the second quarter of the year as estimates show that there will not be enough local supply to meet the projected demand.
According to BFAR Region 6 director Remia Aparri, Western Visayas is “115 percent fish sufficient”, citing figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
“Meaning ang isda from aquaculture and capture fisheries is sufficient to supply sang population sa Region 6,” said Aparri.
Western Visayas even supplies with fish the National Capital Region and other regions, she pointed out.
Aside from aquaculture, the region’s sources of fish are the Visayan Sea, Panay Gulf, Guimaras Strait, and the Sulu Sea, according to Aparri.
But Agriculture secretary William Dar said there would be a fish supply shortfall of about 90,000 metric tons this year, based on the fish supply analysis of BFAR.
“We continue to monitor fish prices which are now slightly increasing and the decision to extend the CNI (certificate of necessity to import) is part of the price stabilization efforts of the government,” said Dar.
He is referring to the import permits issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA) back in January that involve sourcing 60,000 MT of small pelagic fish abroad for the first quarter.
As defined by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, pelagic fish got their name from the area that they inhabit called the pelagic zone. It is the largest marine habitat on earth accounting for about a fourth of the total annual world fisheries catch.
At that time, the DA said the importation, which was criticized by local agriculture groups, was necessary because of the devastation caused late last year by Typhoon “Odette” in fishing areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Still grappling with the same supply issues, the DA issued an administrative order to bring in frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products from April to June.
“The previously approved CNI still allows a remaining volume of 38,695 MT,” said Dar.
The latest directive governs the issuance of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for frozen fish imports for the quarter under the DA’s Fisheries Administrative Order No. 259 which sets the rules and regulations on the importation of frozen fish and aquatic products for wet markets during closed and off-fishing seasons or calamities.
According to BFAR-6’s Aparri, the fish imports would be for regions experiencing fish shortage and Western Visayas is not among them. (With a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer/PN)
