THE fish supply has been judged sufficient to meet demand up to the end of 2020, according to the Department of Agriculture.
In a virtual briefing Tuesday, Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said that at the end of 2020, fish inventory is projected at 87,539 metric tons (MT), equivalent to 10 days’ worth of demand.
Ms. Caballero said for 2020 supply is estimated at 3.42 million MT, against demand of 3.33 million MT.
Ms. Caballero said current constraints on the fish supply include the recent typhoons and the closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea.
“The total losses to the fisheries sector due to calamity have reached 4,552 MT, based on information gathered by BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI),” Ms. Caballero said.
“There should be no worry because despite the effects of the typhoons, the BFAR has implemented interventions to ensure that consumers will have fishery products to eat,” she added.
The BFAR ordered a three-month closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea starting Nov. 15.
The ban will limit the catch of sardines, herring, and mackerel to allow their populations to regenerate. The closed season was declared in Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave