Total volume of fisheries production declined by 2.27 percent

The total fisheries production in Romblon during the fourth quarter of 2024 reached 1,446.53 metric tons showing a decrease of 33.55 metric tons or 2.27 percent compared to the 1,480.08 metric tons production during the same period in 2023. The decline can be attributed to the decrease in production in Municipal and Aquaculture due to less occurrence of species on big-eyed tuna, flying fish, indian mackerel, parrotfish, skipjack tuna, octopus, surgeon fish, and swordfish. Meanwhile, decrease in aquaculture production in seaweeds due to ice-ice disease. (Table 1)

Table 1. Volume of Fisheries Production in Romblon: Fourth Quarter 2023 and Fourth Quarter 2024

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

Fisheries production was categorized into three sub-sectors namely; commercial, municipal, and aquaculture. During the fourth quarter of 2024, municipal fisheries - which is composed of marine and inland fisheries - got the biggest share with 1,103.41 metric tons or 76.28 percent. It was followed by commercial fisheries with 331.43 metric tons or 22.91 percent and aquaculture with 11.68 metric tons 0.81 percent. (Figure 1)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

Municipal fisheries production declined by 7.37 percent

Municipal fisheries production during the fourth quarter of 2024 was 1,103.41 metric tons. It decreased by 87.78 metric tons or 7.37 percent from the 1,191.19 metric tons recorded during the fourth quarter of 2023. The decline can be attributed to the decrease in municipal fisheries due to less occurrence of species on big-eyed tuna, flying fish, indian mackerel, parrotfish, skipjack tuna, octopus, surgeon fish, and swordfish. Inland fisheries also declined due to less occurrence of species of tilapia and snails.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, Romblon’s municipal marine production was recorded at 1,103.39 metric tons, lower by 87.56 metric tons or 7.35 percent compared to the 1,190.95 metric tons produced during the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, municipal Inland production also dropped by 0.22 metric tons or 91.67 percent from 0.24 metric tons recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023. (Figure 2)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

Big-eyed scad tops in marine municipal fisheries production

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the top five species caught in marine municipal fisheries were big-eyed scad (matangbaka), bali sardinella (tamban), anchovies (dilis), squid (pusit), and snapper (maya-maya). Big-eyed scad was the most caught fish with 153.38 metric tons. It was followed by bali sardinella with 150.02 metric tons, anchovies with 111.06 metric tons, squid with 76.37 metric tons, and snapper with 64.86 metric tons. Also, cavalla (talakitok) showed a significant increase in production with 53.17 metric tons (139.18 percent) compared to 22.23 metric tons in 2023. (Table2)

Table 2. Top Five Species in Marine Municipal Fisheries: Romblon, Fourth Quarter 2024 and 2023

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

Commercial fisheries production increased by 20.24 percent

The volume of production in commercial fisheries increased from 275.65 metric tons in 2023 to 331.43 metric tons in 2024 same quarter last year, showing a 20.24 percent increase. The increase was attributed to higher catch of the skipjack tuna (gulyasan) with 248.12 metric tons in 2024 from 82.15 metric tons producte during the same quarter last year.

Skipjack tuna (gulyasan) emerges as top commercial fish

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the top five species caught in commercial fisheries were skipjack tuna (gulyasan), big-eyed scad (matangbaka), roundscad (galunggong), fimbriated sardines (Tunsoy) and Indian mackerel (alumahan). Skipjack tuna was the most caught specie with 248.12 metric tons. It was  followed by big-eyed scad, roundscad, fimbriated sardines and Indian mackerel with 46.14 metric tons, 23.99 metric tons, 5.93 metric tons, and 4.56 metric tons, respectively. (Table 3)

Table 3. Top Five Species in Commercial Fisheries: Romblon 4th Quarter 2023 and 2024

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

Aquaculture fisheries production decreased by 11.78 percent

The volume of production in aquaculture in the province of Romblon decreased by 11.78 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. From 13.24 metric tons in 2023, the production decreased to 11.68 metric tons in 2024. Meanwhile, in the aquaculture sub-sector, a negative growth was observed at -35.42 percent in brackish water fishpond. The production decreased from 5.42 metric tons in 2023 to 3.50 metric tons in 2024. (Table 4)

Meanwhile, marine cage showed increase in production from 0.00 metric tons in 2023 to 4.71 metric tons in 2024 followed by freshwater fishpond with 0.37 metric tons in 2023 to 0.55 metric tons in 2024. (Table 4)

Table 4: Aquaculture Fisheries Production by Aquafarm in Romblon: Fourth Quarter 2024 and 2023

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Quarterly Fisheries Surveys

(SGD) ENGR. JOHNNY F. SOLIS 
Chief Statistical Specialist 
Romblon Provincial Statistical Office