The country’s fisheries production fell by nearly a 10th in the third quarter of 2025 as weaker aquaculture harvests and lower municipal catches outweighed gains from commercial fishing.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday said total fisheries output from July to September reached 894,320 metric tons, down by 7.5 percent from 966,730 MT a year earlier.
‘Decreases in production were noted in aquaculture, marine municipal fisheries and inland municipal fisheries. Meanwhile, commercial fisheries posted production increments during the quarter,’ the PSA said.
Commercial fisheries was the only subsector to post growth, with output rising by 4.7 percent to 224,560 MT from 214,430 MT last year.
The segment accounted for about a quarter, or 25.1 percent, of total production during the period.
Marine municipal fisheries, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of total output, fell by 9.7 percent to 168,920 MT from 187,130 MT in the same quarter of 2024.
Inland municipal fisheries also declined slightly by 0.6 percent to 45,990 MT.
Aquaculture, which consistently provides the biggest share of the country’s fish supply, dropped by 12.3 percent to 454,860 MT from 518,910 MT a year ago.
The subsector accounted for 50.9 percent of total fisheries output in the quarter.
Of the 21 major species monitored by the government’s statistics agency, production fell for several key commodities.
The steepest decline was recorded in seaweed, which dropped by 15.7 percent to 303,636 MT from 360,069 MT during the quarter.
Output of bali sardinella, locally known as tamban, also went down by 13.3 percent to 66,794 MT from 77,450 MT, while milkfish or bangus production slipped by 9.7 percent to 80,877 MT from 89,516 MT compared to the same period last year.
In contrast, skipjack tuna, locally called gulyasan, rose by 15.9 percent to 69,589 MT from 60,056 MT, while squid or pusit increased by 22.6 percent to 14,573 MT from 11,887 MT.
Tilapia production likewise improved slightly, growing by 3.1 percent to 57,578 MT from 56,027 MT for the period.