Guimaras’ inland municipal fisheries volume of production drops by 8.82%

Inland municipal fisheries volume of production in Guimaras recorded 57.06 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2024, or 8.82 percent lower than the 62.58 metric tons recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Tilapia records highest volume of production in 2024

The top five species caught in the inland municipal waters in the fourth quarter of 2024 were tilapia, spade fish, white shrimp, mullet, and tarpon.

Tilapia has the highest volume of production at 7.38 metric tons, contributing 12.93 percent of the total inland production. Its output increased at 12.93 percent from the 8.10 metric tons output in 2023. Spade fish production in the province reached 4.90 metric tons making up 8.59 percent of the total inland municipal fisheries production. This was an increase from the 2.11 metric tons in 2023.

Production of white shrimp was estimated at 4.72 metric tons, reflecting a 6.53 percent decrease in the fourth quarter 2024. Mullet production increased by 31.44 percent from the 3.34 metric tons output in 2023. Meanwhile, tarpon recorded 3.91 metric tons, which was 3.69 percent lower than the production in 2023.

Inland municipal fisheries production value decrease by 31.64 percent

Inland fisheries value of production in Guimaras accounted an estimated 5.78 million pesos in 2024, or 31.64 percent lower than the estimated 8.45 million pesos recorded in 2023.

The top five species caught in the inland municipal waters in 2024 in terms of production value were white shrimp, mullet, spade fish, tilapia, and catfish.

White shrimp (hipong puti) has the highest value of production at an estimated 947.36 thousand pesos, contributing 16.40 percent of the total inland production. Its output decreased by 26.36 percent from the estimated 1.2 million pesos output in 2023. Mullet production in the province reached an estimated 698.32 thousand pesos making up 12.09 percent of the total inland municipal fisheries production value. This was an increase from the 549.84 thousand pesos in 2023.

Production of spade fish was estimated at 687.84 thousand pesos, reflecting an 89.32 percent increase in 2024. Tilapia production value decreased by 39.31 percent from the estimated 1.04 million pesos output in 2023. Meanwhile, catfish recorded an estimated 429.95 thousand pesos, which was 48.34 percent lower than its value of production in 2023.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Fisheries - all activities relating to the act or business of fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing aquatic resources and the fishery areas including the privilege to fish or take aquatic resources thereof (RA 8550).

Fisheries Sector - the sector engaged in the production, growing. harvesting, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing aquatic resources and fishing areas.

Fishing Grounds - areas in any body of water where fish and other aquatic resources congregate and become the target of capture.

Inland Municipal Fishing - the catching of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and all other aquatic animals and plants in inland water like lakes, rivers, dams, marshes, etc. using simple gears and fishing boats some of which are non-motorized with a capacity of three gross tons or less; or fishing not requiring the use of fishing boats.

Landing Center - a place where the fish catch, and other aquatic products are unloaded and traded.

Municipal Fishing - covers fishing operation carried out with or without the use of a boat weighing three gross tons or less