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Friday, March 29, 2024

‘PH still self-sufficient in sardine production’

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country continues to be self-sufficient in sardines production for the rest of 2022.

The Philippine Statistics Authority and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said sufficiency level for sardines or tamban is at 222.58 percent for the first quarter of 2022, and 409.06 percent for the 2nd quarter.

For 2022, BFAR forecasts an annual production of 293,431 metric tons (MT) of sardines, more than enough to cover the national demand of 101,367 MT.

The annual haul, sourced locally, comes from commercial and municipal fishers, at 208,387 MT and 85,043 MT, respectively.

Data from the national stock assessment program of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) show that sardines stock has significantly improved resulting in more sardines reaching maturity to appropriate catchable size.

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The stable supply, NFRDI noted, was due to the effective implementation of the national sardine management plan, a 5-year plan which harmonizes all the policies and programs on sardines including conservation measures such as the closed fishing seasons.

Implemented in 2020, the plan was responsible for the notable improvement in production and supply of sardines.

BFAR reiterated that under Republic Act 10654 or the amended Philippine Fisheries Code, small and medium commercial fishing vessels may be allowed to operate within the 10.1 to 15 kilometers from the shoreline in the municipal waters provided that the local government unit enacts a municipal ordinance allowing their operation.

Earlier, the Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines (CSAP) called for the opening up of municipal waters to commercial fishing vessels in order to address the alleged shortage of sardines, contrary to the existing sardine supply sufficiency data.

As the primary government agency mandated to manage the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources, BFAR remains committed to increasing production and ensuring fish sufficiency through sustainable means and without compromising the ecological integrity of aquatic and marine environment.

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