The Philippines’ seafood sector is expressing concern about an increase in fish imports from China affecting the livelihoods of local fishers.
The Philippines has imported an average of 20 containers of fish from China weekly over the past month, according to The Manila Times.
Under the Philippines law, the Department of Agriculture, through Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, is authorized to grant permission for imports of fish for the purpose of domestic processing, canning, and supply to major customers like restaurants and hotels.
However, Association of Fresh Fish Traders of the Philippines President Roderick Santos said the Chinese imports are being sold in the country's wet markets, competing directly with sales of local fish.
The competition from imported fish is hitting local fishers, who have already been struggling with high fuel prices recently, Santos said.
"Local fishermen barely survive because of the increasing prices of oil and the diversion of imported fish to the wet markets further aggravated our sufferings," Santos said.
Santos has called for a ban on imports of fish to protect the domestic market, with an exception during the country's annual fishing moratorium between November and January.
The Philippines is forecast to import seafood worth USD 1.1 billion (EUR 1.12 billion) this year, up 13.4 percent from 2021, The Philippine Star reported in May 2022, citing a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Southeast Asian nation imported seafood, mainly fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic species, worth USD 970 million (EUR 988.6 million) in 2021, an increase of 40 percent year-on-year.
“Import demand remains supported by declining local fish stocks and a general lack of affordable animal protein alternatives,” the U.S. agency said.
However, the U.S. seafood exports to the Philippines remained modest, with value totaling only USD 10 million (EUR 10.2 million) in recent years.
China was the largest supplier of fish to the Philippines, accounting for 78 percent of market share, followed by Vietnam at 6 percent. Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan held 2 percent of market share each.
The U.S. agency noted that the Philippines’ total fisheries production dropped 3.4 percent year-on-year to 4.2 million metric tons (MT) in 2021, which is expected to fall further this year. Their decline in supply “in turn has increased the importance of and opportunities for trade.”
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