Respective contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food security and nutrition
For the Philippines, aquaculture production of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks in 2009 produced 0.737 million metric tons and ranked 11th in the world, contributing about 55.68 million metric tons to the total global aquaculture production. In terms of value, aquaculture contributed PhP 82.86 billion or 37.5% to the country’s economy as compared to the PhP 60.46 billion (27.3%) of commercial fisheries (BFAR* 2010 fisheries profile). The per capita food consumption of fish and other fishery products is 11.7% of the total food intake of Filipinos, next to rice.
Women and food security
Filipino women are involved in pre and post fisheries production activities. For example, when a husband fisherman goes out to sea, the wife wakes up early to prepare the food. Likewise, when the husband returns from sea after fishing, part of the catch is locally sold by the woman in the community. The woman also makes sure that the family will get its share from the catch, ensuring the food security of the household.
In some coastal communities, women engage in fry collection, harvesting of sea urchins and sea cucumbers, etc. but these are hardly recognized as fishing activities. They also help in net making and mending activities.
However, many of the important contributions of women in food security and the fisheries sector, in general, are hardly recognized because of the stereotyping of roles in a household wherein it is the responsibility of the woman of the household to take care and nurture the family. Thus, it is deemed as an inherent attribute of her being the mother.
Further, the lack of gender-differentiated data has contributed to the invisibility of women. Even the Philippine Fisheries Profile does not reflect the number of women directly involved in fisheries; data are clustered by sector. It is only very recently that the role and contribution of women in fisheries and resource management has been given some attention.
Environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture and governance
Parallel issues on conservation and poverty pose challenges in the prioritization of activities, particularly at the coastal communities wherein more than 80% of the country’s population reside, often at living standards below poverty line. Conflict in resource use and among resource users are key concerns. In spite of this, many local government units (LGUs) advocate community-based resource management to include participation of the different stakeholders within the community.
Fisheries and aquaculture interaction
Some of the fishmeal, specifically prawn feeds) used in aquaculture are imported from other countries thus it does not pose that much of a problem to human food security but rather increases operational cost to aquaculture. In 2010, prawn feeds accounted for 4% of the total import value in fisheries.
The future of fisheries and aquaculture in the context of foods security
With the dwindling catch from the wild (capture fisheries), it is believed that aquaculture will still be the major source of protein for the country. That is why researches on major fishery commodities like milkfish and shrimps are currently being undertaken by different research institutions throughout the country for sustainable culture practices with the intent of increasing production without adversely affecting the environment.
Contributions by
Farisal U. Bagsit (Researcher),
Caridad N. Jimenez (Faculty),
Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies
College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of the Philippines Visayas
5023 Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines
Farisal U. Farisal U. Bagsit