MANILA — The country’s fisheries production fell by 7.5 percent in the third quarter of 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data showed that the total volume of fisheries output reached 894.32 thousand metric tons from July to September, down from 966.73 thousand metric tons recorded during the same period last year.

The PSA attributed the overall decline to lower production in aquaculture, marine municipal fisheries, and inland municipal fisheries, while the commercial fisheries subsector recorded gains during the period.

Commercial fisheries production rose by 4.7 percent to 224.56 thousand metric tons from 214.43 thousand metric tons a year ago, accounting for 25.1 percent of total fisheries production in the third quarter.

Marine municipal fisheries production, however, dropped by 9.7 percent to 168.92 thousand metric tons from 187.13 thousand metric tons, making up 18.9 percent of the total output.

Production from inland municipal fisheries slightly declined by 0.6 percent to 45.99 thousand metric tons from 46.26 thousand metric tons, representing 5.1 percent of the overall production.

Meanwhile, aquaculture production recorded the steepest drop at 12.3 percent, with total harvests reaching 454.86 thousand metric tons compared with 518.91 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2024. Aquaculture remained the largest contributor, comprising 50.9 percent of total fisheries production.

Among the 21 major species, the biggest declines were noted in seaweed (-15.7%), bali sardinella or tamban (-13.3%), and milkfish or bangus (-9.7%).

In contrast, output increases were observed in skipjack or gulyasan (15.9%), squid or pusit (22.6%), and tilapia (3.1%).