WESTERN Visayas recorded a total fisheries production volume of 66,003 metric tons in the second quarter of 2026, marking an 8.3 percent dropn— or around 5,959 metric tons less — compared to the same period in 2025.
Data indicates the decline was primarily driven by contractions in the aquaculture and commercial fisheries subsectors, which shrank by 17.1 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively. In contrast, the municipal fisheries subsector posted an 8.1 percent growth.
Aquaculture accounted for the largest share of the region’s total yield at 50.4 percent, followed by commercial fisheries at 26.1 percent, and municipal fisheries (comprising marine and inland subsectors) at 23.5 percent.
All five provinces with aquaculture operations contributed to the subsector’s overall 17.1 percent decline:
* Capiz (56.7% share of regional yield) – down 16.4%
* Antique (36.9% share) – down 15.7%
* Iloilo** (4.2% share) – down 12.2%
* Aklan (1.5% share) – down 32.7%
* Guimaras (0.7% share)– down 66.6%
Meanwhile, marine municipal fisheries production grew 8.1 percent year-on-year, adding approximately 1,138 metric tons to the regional output:
Iloilo (27.3% share) and Aklan (25.7% share) led the gains, expanding by 33.9 percent and 22.8 percent, respectively.
Guimaras (9.0% share) recorded a slight gain of 1.3 percent. Antique (29.1% share) and Capiz (9.0% share) bucked the trend, declining by 4.1 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively.
Inland municipal fisheries also saw an 8.1 percent increase, yielding 353.6 metric tons compared to 326.98 metric tons in the second quarter of 2025. Production was boosted by Guimaras, Iloilo, and Capiz. However, output fell in Aklan and Antique.
Commercial fisheries production fell 1.4 percent (down 246 metric tons) year-on-year. While Aklan soared by 222.6 percent, Antique grew by 21.4 percent, and Capiz rose by 7.5 percent, these gains were offset by a sharp 49.5 percent drop in Iloilo (24.4% share). Guimaras remains the only province in the region without a commercial fisheries landing center.
The total value of fisheries production for Q2 2026 reached ₱6.89 billion, down 6.3 percent (or ₱462.23 million lower) from the ₱7.35 billion generated in Q2 2025. Value contractions in aquaculture (-12.9%) and commercial fisheries (-9.6%) pulled total revenue down, despite a 7.3 percent gain in municipal fisheries value./PN
