FISH unloaded in January this year reached 38,780.63 metric tons (MT), marking a decrease from the previous month's fish deliveries, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) said.

The latest figure was 19.12 percent lower from the 47,952 MT of fish delivered in December last year. The PFDA attributed the decline to the closed fishing seasons in key fishing areas and unfavorable weather conditions during the month.

Fishermen arranging their daily catch at the Navotas Fish Port in Navotas City on Monday. PHOTO BY MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

"Nonetheless, all PFDA Regional fish ports still managed to supply sufficient and affordable fishery products to all their clients and stakeholders," the PFDA said.

Year on year, the result was 2.3 percent higher than the 37,900.16 MT volume of fish delivered in the same month of 2023.

Despite the lower fish delivery, both the Lucena Fish Port Complex (LFPC) and the Zamboanga Fish Port Complex showed steady growth in fish shipments.

The LFPC in South-Central Luzon saw a rise of 8.17 percent, delivering 1,645.61 MT of fish during the month. Meanwhile, the Western Mindanao port recorded a 10.97-percent increase, handling 857.75 MT of fish.

The General Santos Fish Port Complex, meanwhile, saw a slight decrease in its monthly fish unloading at 22,706.98 MT. PFDA said that the decline is partly due to a decrease in vessel arrivals.

The reduced fishing activity during the lean season also impacted the Navotas Fish Port Complex as its January delivery dropped by 35.7 percent to 10,606.00 MT.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources announced in November last year the three-month closed fishing season in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Visayan Sea.

This is done annually through the Bureau's Administrative Circular 225 that aims to conserve and protect the economically important species in the two fishing grounds during their spawning period.

Additionally, a slight decline in fish delivery was recorded in both Iloilo Fish Port Complex and the Bulan Fish Port Complex during the month. However, the two ports managed to deliver 1,607.20 MT and 1,080.95 MT of fish, respectively.

The Davao Fish Port Complex also posted a decline in volume attributed to adverse weather conditions and calamities throughout the month, resulting in the unloading of 276.14 MT of fish.

The PFDA said that it expects fish deliveries "to significantly recover come February when the annual closed fishing season in the waters of Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Palawan and the Visayan Sea simultaneously reopen."