Rising oil prices affecting fresh fish supply in markets –fish traders

Association of Fresh Fish Traders of the Philippines President Jonjon Santos said fuel prices were affecting supplies in the market and there was no need to import more fish.

In an interview on Super Radyo DZBB, Santos said that the 60,000 metric tons of fish the Agriculture Department imported during 2022's first quarter had addressed the projected deficiency in supplies.

“Mayroon naman tayong isda, hindi kailangang mag-import,” said Santos.

(We have enough fish supplies. There's no need to import.)

However, due to the price increase of crude oil, some fishermen were choosing not to operate rather than lose money.

“Ang good news, maraming isda. Ang masama, nasa loob ng municipal waters. Wala naman kakulangan sa fishing ground kaso hindi makapanghuli dahil nasa loob ng municipal waters. Kapag lumayo naman, mahal ang krudo,” said Santos.

(The good news is, there is plenty of fish... The bad news is that fishing is limited to within municipal waters due to fuel prices. There is no shortage of fishing grounds but it is within the municipal waters. When you go further out, fuel prices make it expensive.)

Santos explained that municipal fishermen alone could not meet the demand for fish.

“Dapat tulungan ang mga mangingisda, hindi lang ang mga municipal fisherman, dapat pati ang commercial tulungan din sa krudo. Dapat ayusin ang access sa fishing ground para naman mapakinabangan ng mga mamimili na pwede namang hulihin sa tamang fishing ground," he added.

(There is a need to help fishermen, not just the municipal fishermen, the commercial ones should also be helped with fuel prices. They should be given help getting to fishing grounds as this would benefit consumers.) — DVM, GMA News