The supply and value chain of the world’s only freshwater sardine, Sardinella tawilis endemic to Taal Lake, were studied from January to December 2016. This study aimed to identify the actors in the value chain, evaluate each actor’s value addition, identify the roles of men and women in the chain, and identify the issues, concerns, and entry points for intervention. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and tracer survey interviews were done to gather data. A semi-structured questionnaire was directed to 189 respondents within and outside Taal Lake. The study showed that the tawilis marketing system is limited to the local market. Tawilis is traded fresh and processed. The chain’s key actors include the fishers, fish buyers (wholesaler, retailer, peddlers, and contracted fish buyers), processors, and consumers. The outcome of the value chain analysis of the tawilis industry showed that commercial processors have the highest value-added due to the place, form, and time transformation of the product. Meanwhile, the fishers and small-scale fish buyers have the lowest value-added during lean and peak season, respectively. The tawilis industry provides livelihood to the marginal fisherfolk, which is the first supply chain link. Several strategies were recommended in the form of process, product, function, and overall upgrading to uplift the economic benefit of the different actors in the chain and boost the tawilis industry. These include the improvement on the fishing operations, upgrading of fishing gear and other paraphernalia, provision of training on post-harvest techniques (handling, preservation, processing, value-adding, product development, etc.), market matching strategies, improvement in farm to market road transportation, establishment of fish processing facilities, and access to credit, loans or grants from the national and local governments.

Maliputo (Caranx ignobilis) is a high-value food fish in the Philippines with limited studies on market potential. This value chain analysis study was conducted to understand the industry, to identify the key actors, supply and value chain, and to identify issues and concerns to support the development of C. ignobilis industry. A survey interview was conducted using purposive sampling in nine maliputo-producing regions with 224 respondents, and focus group discussion validated the analyzed data. Key chain actors identified are fishers, fish cage operators, fish buyers categorized as small-scale (local vendors and peddlers) and large-scale intermediaries (commission agents and wholesalers), and processors (restaurants and resorts). Annual production was 188,722 kg valued at PHP 33,752,859.79 with 58.12% coming from capture fisheries and 41.88% from aquaculture. Major producing regions for captured and cultured C. ignobilis are Regions 2 (Cagayan), 6 (Iloilo), and 3 (Central Luzon). The industry’s value chain map showed a gross value addition of PHP 116.58, 135.65, 75.04, 23.58, and 749.71 per kg maliputo for capture, aquaculture, small-scale fish buyer, large-scale fish buyer, and processors, respectively. Processors attained the highest net returns while fishers got the lowest. This study noted that C. ignobilis is a non-target species in capture fisheries resulting in an inconsistent supply of the fish. For aquaculture, there is a need to improve its culture technology, develop seed production technology, and formulate an artificial diet. Various upgrading strategies to improve the industry and to increase the benefits derived by the key actors had been identified and presented in the paper.