BFAR expects fish supply, prices to be stable in summer 2025

The supply and prices of fishes are expected to be stable during the "summer" season this year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Saturday.

"Inaasahan natin na kapag summer season, maganda ang huli ng ating mga mangingisda. Kapag maganda ang huli, inaasahan na mataas din ang supply sa mga palengke," BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We expect that when it is summer season, fishermen will have a good catch. When that happens, there will be adequate supply of fish in markets.)

"Yes [inaasahan ang stable na presyo ng isda kapag marami ang supply ng isda]. Kapag maraming naibaba ang mga mangingisda at mataas na supply, inaasahan din natin na stable ang presyo," he added.

(Yes [we are expecting prices to be stable when there is enough supply of fish]. When fishermen get a good catch and supply is high, the prices are expected to be stable.)

Briguera said the ban on the country's major fishing grounds has been lifted.

"Nabuksan na natin ang major fishing grounds kung saan ipinatupad ang closed fishing season. Bukas na ito sa fishing activities," he said.

(Our major fishing grounds, which were closed for a season, had been opened for fishing activities.)

The BFAR lifted last month the three-month closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayan Sea which was done to conserve certain fish populations in the area.

"Nandiyan ang Zamboanga Pensinsula, Palawan, Visayan Sea, Davao Gulf — 'yan ang ating major fishing grounds. Ito 'yung mga lugar na may specific conservation measure for specific fishes," Briguera said.

(Our major fishing grounds Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, Visayan Sea, Davao Gulf have specific conservation measures for specific fishes.)

Palawan had closed fishing season for the conservation of galunggong, and Zamboanga Peninsula for sardines, he added.

The BFAR spokesperson said as of March 10, local fresh galunggong is being sold at P300 per kilo.

"Inaasahan natin na bababa pa ito dahil tapos na ang closed fishing season sa Palawan," he said.

(We expect the price to go down since the closed fishing season in Palawan has ended.)

Imports

Meanwhile, Briguera said the Department of Agriculture recently allowed the importation of fish to have more fish varieties available in the local market.

"Hindi ito mangangahulugan ng kompetisyon sa mga lokal na mangingisda. Ang sakop lamang nito ay mga uri ng isda na hindi nakikita sa mga palengke, kagaya ng salmon," he said.

(This does not mean competition with our local fishermen. The fish to be imported are those not usually seen in local markets, such as salmon.)

"Pangalawa, 'yung pang-aangkat, ang layunin nito ay bantayan na hindi tumaas ang inflation sa fisheries industry — para nakokontrol natin ang pagtaas ng presyo," he added.

(Secondly, the aim of the importation is to ensure that inflation in the fisheries industry will not go up, so prices of fish will be controlled.)

"May mga factor kasi na nakakaapekto na rin sa presyo ng isda, gaya ng mataas na presyo ng fuel," Briguera said.

(There are factors that affect the pricing of fish, such as the high cost of fuel.)

The government has been giving fishermen fuel subsidy to help lower their costs, he added.

"May ongoing fuel subsidy na ipinatutupad ngayon. Ang saklaw nito ay 'yung mga mangingisda sa municipal waters," he said.

(There is ongoing fuel subsidy in effect for fishermen in municipal waters.)

Briguera reiterated that the supply and pricing of marine fishes and in aquaculture remain adequate and stable. —KG, GMA Integrated News