Import not the answer to declining fish catch, high prices

The plan of the “PH to import 25,000 MT of fish to ensure fish supply (Inquirer.net, 4/26/24) was opposed by the fishers’ group since the “New import policies will only worsen the plight of fisherfolk” (4/30/24).

I would like to present the context of the case by analyzing the data culled from the Philippine Fisheries Profile and Situation reports and other sources.

In 2010, the country attained the highest marine fish catch at 2.426 million metric tons. Then it started to decline until it reached 1.815 million MT in 2022 and 1.7 million MT in 2023. On the other hand, the fish import amounted to 202,000 MT and 561,000 MT in 2010 and 2022, respectively. There is a strong relationship that as the catch decreased by 25 percent, the import increased by as high as 180 percent. This is an indication that the country is increasing its reliance on fish imports amid declining catch.

The extent of scarcity in fish supply is shown by the declining catch per capita from 26.4 kilograms in 2010 to 15.8 kg in 2022 which effected price increase. On the other hand, Vietnam and Indonesia which are among the top fish exporters to the country have higher catch per capita at 40 kg and 25 kg, respectively. Moreover, their fishing industry is well subsidized. Hence, the average price of imported fish in 2022 was as low as P89 per kg (FOB).

Through the Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195 series of 1999, the institutional buyers that cater to hotels and restaurants and companies that are engaged in canning and processing are allowed to import fish and fishery products. Recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Memorandum Order No. 17 series of 2024 issued a certificate of necessity to import (CNI) 25,000 MT of frozen small pelagic fish (round scad or galunggong, bonito or tulingan, and mackerel or alumahan) for wet markets on Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024. Previously, the DA issued the CNI for the import of 60,000 MT and 35,000 MT in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The purpose of import is to stabilize the supply and price of fish during the period of low fish supply that coincides with the closed fishing season from Nov. 15 to February. Historical data will show that the combined catch in the first and fourth quarters (October to March) has been observed to be more or less than 20 percent lower than the second and third quarters (April to September).

Before 2022, there has not been much clamor against imports. However, the persistent catch decline in 2022 onward inevitably led to the high level of import that benefits big importers. However it is detrimental to the fisherfolk because the dumping of cheap imported fish in the wet markets resulted in the decrease in farm gate price of their produce. In fact, it has been reported that 90,000 MT to 100,000 MT of imported fish for canning and processing are diverted to the wet markets every year. This is now under investigation.

Therefore, import is not the answer to declining catch and making the supply and price of fish stable. It is rather the implementation of smart fisheries management that entails a reduction in fishing effort with the provision of alternative livelihood and requires collective action by different stakeholders.

Edmundo Enderez,
edmenderez@gmail.com