The recently-released Fisheries Situation Report, reflecting January to March 2018, showed a slight decline, around 3.39 percent, in fish gathered by commercial fisheries.

The report cited a reduction of trips made in the Western Visayas due to poor weather conditions.

An overall decline was reported across all sectors, including municipal fisheries and aquaculture, which refers to fish farming.

Municipal fisheries showed the largest decline, around 6.79 percent, which was also blamed on weather conditions.

Around one million metric tons of volume was recorded in the first quarter of 2018, which is approximately three percent lower as compared to the same period last year./WDJ