There will be an adequate supply of fish in the market, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) assured on Thursday, ahead of Holy Week in April when demand for fish mounts.
In a statement, DA-BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said there would be sufficient production as the closed fishing season had been lifted.
"Dahil nasa peak season ngayon ng fishing activity, we expect na kaya nating punan 'yung supply kahit tumaas ang demand sa Mahal na araw," he said.
The DA-BFAR noted there could be a decline in fish outputs in Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces due to the impact of the industrial oil spill from the capsized oil tanker MT Princess Empress.
"Pero hindi nanaman nakikita na magkakaroon ng pangmalawakang kakulangan sa presya ng isda because of the oil spill," Briguera added.
Meanwhile, Briguera acknowledged that the fishing industry is currently challenged by rising fuel costs and post-harvest losses.
"Alam natin na nagfa-fluctuate ang presyo ng petrolyo. Minsan tumataas ito at nagiging dahilan kung bakit nababawasan ang fishing activities kaya ang DA-BFAR ay patuloy na nagsusulong na subsisdy program at payao technology lalo na sa small-scale fisherfolk," he said.
