Bangus production increased by 8.3% in H1 2021, says PSA, BFAR

The production of bangus in the country has seen a steady rise this year, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources citing data shared by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Data showed that for the first half of 2021, the production rate for bangus increased by 8.3%.

The PSA recorded a total volume of 184,926.7 metric tons of bangus by the end of June 2021 as compared to last year’s 170,755 metric tons around the same period.

Region 12 recorded the highest growth rate of 116%, followed by the National Capital Region with 99.2%, and Region 7 with 40.6%. The other top performing regions in terms of production are the Central Luzon with 55,740.14 MT (30.14%), Ilocos Region with 47,552.54 MT (25.71%), and Western Visayas with 46,108.95 MT (24.16%).

The increase in production, however, was not solely recorded on bangus sold in marketable size. As of the third quarter of 2021, the industry has also recorded a 40.8% increase in production of bangus fry for aquaculture, from 771 million pieces of fry produced on said period last year to 1.085 billion bangus fry this year.

“In 2020, we are yet at 95.8% but our goal is 100% food fish sufficiency through 100% local production. The increase in production recorded for any commodity that we are developing, for instance, bangus, only shows that we are on the right track with our efforts which we make sure are always rooted on the principle of sustainable production based on the guidance of our Agriculture Secretary William Dar,” BFAR national director Eduardo Gongona said.

He said the increase of production can be linked to the active stakeholders’ participation, increased efficiency of hatcheries following rehabilitation and the operation of Satellite Community-Based Larval Rearing Facilities (SCBLRF) in the country, established through the Bangus Fry Sufficiency Program.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA News