Reconciling population growth and food productivity has trumped the government for ages. Projections from the National Census and Statistics Office placed the country's population at 75.2 million by the year 2000. Each consumer has the potential to consume 36 to 55 kilograms of fish and seafood annually, but the country's fish catch continues to dwindle.

Tilapia holds promise for the future. (1996, July 27). The Manila Times, p. 15.