Ensuring Aquatic Food Security in the Philippines

Abstract

The human population of the Philippines is expected to reach 158 million by the year 2050, or an increase of 37% relative to 2022. This implies increased demand for aquatic food (or “fish” hereafter). This begs the question of whether the Philippines can meet the expected increase in fish demand. We estimate that even if the Philippines can maintain its current fish production, the Philippines will still require 1.67 million metric tons more fish per year by 2050 to at least maintain its current per capita fish consumption of 34.27 kg per year. Continued mismanagement of inland and marine fisheries will further widen the gap in fish supply. However, we argue that simultaneously rebuilding overfished fisheries, restoring degraded habitats crucial to supporting productive fisheries, addressing current threats to fisheries sustainability, and expanding sustainable marine aquaculture (or mariculture) have the potential to meet future fish demand in the Philippines. Sustainably expanding mariculture requires careful siting and management of mariculture development areas so that mariculture can improve food security without disenfranchising and marginalizing local coastal communities.

The Prevalence of Marine Lipophilic Phycotoxins Causes Potential Risks in a Tropical Small Island Developing State

“…The HQ value (49.6) for P-CTXs in Skipjack tuna surpassed the threshold of 1, suggesting that they not only posed a risk to the local population but also posed potential risks for export. The corresponding EDI values for Thailand, Philippines, and Japan were 0.688, 0.751, and 0.702 ng/kg/day, respectively, based on their respective fish consumption rates. − Regularly monitoring the safety of tuna is of utmost importance to protect the well-being of consumers and to maintain the long-term sustainability and viability of Kiribati’s tuna industry.…”