A massive surge in fish imports have been observed affecting the local fisheries and aquaculture industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. Data from the Philippine Fisheries Profile, which was published by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, showed that the total imports of fresh, chilled, and frozen fish alone from 2017 to 2022 reached 2.37 million metric tons, having a worth of P163.76 billion. This was due to the loose importation policy, which included unloading shipments in private ports.

Surge in fish imports due to loose policy - DA. (2025, September 18). Panay News, p. 13.