CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 office (BFAR-10) plans to use the latest agriculture and fisheries survey data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in assisting fisheries communities in Northern Mindanao.
BFAR-10 announced this during the Fourth Quarter 2025 Agriculture and Fishery Production Statistics Virtual Regional Data Dissemination Forum on March 24, stating that the data will inform program adjustments, resource allocation, and identification of priority areas as the sector faces declining output.
“Updated data allows us to design programs that target communities and fisheries subsectors most in need, especially as prices for fuel and fishing inputs continue to rise,” said Stephanie Tomarong, fishing regulations officer of BFAR-10.
She said the agency will use the survey results to improve existing programs, manage resources, and address production gaps across the region.
PSA data showed that fisheries production in Northern Mindanao reached 22,029 metric tons (MT) in the fourth quarter of 2025, down by 5.2 percent from the same period in 2024. Lanao del Norte recorded the highest share among provinces with 15,517 MT.
Of the total output, municipal fisheries accounted for the largest share at 59.7 percent, followed by commercial fisheries at 21.1 percent, and aquaculture at 16.2 percent. Inland fisheries accounted for 2.9 percent of total output.
The data also identified the top fish species by production volume. Squid recorded the highest output at 2,644 MT, followed by milkfish at 2,080 MT.
Other species with notable production levels included bali sardinella (tamban) at 1,602 MT, frigate tuna (tulingan) at 1,556 MT, anchovy (dilis) at 1,429 MT, and tilapia at 1,093 MT.
