Economically important and managed freshwater species have been identified for comprehensive assessment. The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute – Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division (NFRDI–FPHRDD) is now implementing a study on value chain analysis of high-value, economically important and managed stocks in Fisheries Management Areas 6 and 9 under the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project.
In the Cordillera, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been identified as an economically important commodity in the provinces of Abra, Benguet, and Kalinga. Meanwhile, the large snout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) has been classified as a managed stock species in Abra, highlighting its ecological and fisheries management significance within the province.
To support the study, the research team conducted a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with the local government units, provincial fishery staff, tilapia and goby producers. These activities aimed to finalize and validate pre-identified municipal areas and priority fishery commodities in the region.
The study seeks to generate evidence-based insights on chain structures, stakeholder roles, spatial distribution, economic performance, and constraints of the fisheries supply and value chain in the Philippines. Key data collected include number of registered fisherfolk, fishing seasonality, 10-year production and traceability records, fishery products, and business environment and support services, among others.
Through this initiative, the project emphasizes strong collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), LGUs, and primary stakeholders in advancing a resilient and sustainable fisheries sector. In the coming weeks, the NFRDI-FPHRDD team is set to further strengthen its primary research efforts through field data collection across FMA 6 to further refine the study’s findings and recommendations.
It can be recalled that 12 FMAs were established in the Philippines through Fisheries Administrative Order No. 263 series of 2019, based on considerations of stock boundary/range/distribution, structure of fisheries as well as administrative divisions. However, only two FMAs are covered under the FishCoRe project – FMAs 6 and 9.//
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