The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) welcomed the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Fisheries Situation Report, which revealed a 2.0 percent increase in national fisheries production for the second quarter of 2026.
From April to June 2026, estimated total production reached 1.03 million metric tons, up from 1.01 million metric tons recorded during the same period in 2025. Total production value also experienced a significant upward surge of 11.4 percent, amounting to an estimated PhP 91.63 billion.
DA-BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig highlighted the sector’s vital role in national stability: “The increase in fisheries production both in volume and value in the second quarter of 2026 indicates the continuing contribution of our municipal and commercial fisheries to the country’s food security and the livelihoods of our fisherfolk. DA-BFAR will continue working closely with local government units, fishing communities, and industry stakeholders to sustain productivity, address production challenges, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the fisheries sector.”
The Q2 2026 growth was primarily propelled by rebounds and gains across municipal and commercial subsectors:
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Marine Municipal Fisheries: Recorded the strongest growth at 18.8 percent, surging from 208.14 thousand metric tons to 247.35 thousand metric tons. It accounted for 24.1 percent of total output, highlighting the critical role of municipal fishers in the national fish supply.
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Commercial Fisheries: Reached 272.87 thousand metric tons (a 0.7 percent increase from 270.92 thousand metric tons in Q2 2025), making up 26.6 percent of total production.
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Inland Municipal Fisheries: Increased by 4.8 percent, moving from 43.49 thousand metric tons to 45.58 thousand metric tons, representing 4.4 percent of the total volume.
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Aquaculture: Contracted by 4.8 percent, dropping from 483.92 thousand metric tons to 460.93 thousand metric tons. Despite the decline, aquaculture remained the single largest contributor to national output at 44.9 percent.
According to the PSA report, production shifts varied widely among major commercial and municipal fishery species:
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Notable Increases:
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Squid (Pusit): +42.2%
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Roundscad (Galunggong): +38.0%
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Tilapia: +13.1%
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Notable Declines:
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Oyster: -85.8%
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Skipjack (Gulyasan): -14.0%
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Big-eyed scad (Matangbaka): -11.5%
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Milkfish (Bangus): -7.1%
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Seaweed: -3.3%
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Moving forward, DA-BFAR remains committed to rolling out targeted interventions alongside local stakeholders to mitigate subsector challenges—particularly in aquaculture—while safeguarding the upward momentum of municipal and commercial catches.
