The Philippines’ tuna catch for 2025 was estimated at 230,347 metric tons (MT), according to the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI).

Last year’s tuna catch estimate was finalized and submitted to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) during the 18th PTUNASTAT Annual Catch Estimates Review Workshop through the Western Pacific East Asia–Sustainable Pacific Fisheries (WPEA-SPF) Project, on May 28 to 29.

The event consolidated, reviewed, and validated oceanic tuna catch estimates generated during the 17th WPEA-NSAP Tuna Catch Data Review Workshop.

The fisheries data were reconciled with the records from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) offices in General Santos City, Davao, Iloilo, and Navotas City, as well as the Socssksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII).

“Through the comparison and validation of various datasets and estimation methods, participants finalized the country’s annual tuna catch estimates,” the DA-NFRDI said in a news release on Friday.

Of the total, the skipjack tuna remained the dominant species at more than 58 percent.

Yellowfin tuna contributed approximately 39 percent, followed by bigeye tuna at about 3 percent and albacore tuna at less than 1 percent.

Purse seine accounted for more than 46 percent of the total estimated tuna production in terms of fishing gears, maintaining its position as the largest contributor in the national tuna catch.

Soccsksargen recorded the highest volume of tuna landings nationwide.

Participants, meanwhile, recommended the strengthening of catch reporting by species, fishing gear, and fishing grounds to improve the quality and accuracy of the country’s tuna fisheries data.

This may be realized through enhanced data coverage and alignment with WCPFC standards, standardized gear classifications, consolidation of distant-water catches into electronic reporting systems, and improved data sharing among partner agencies.

The next PTUNASTAT Annual Catch Estimates Review Workshop is scheduled for April 2027. (PNA)