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TACLOBAN CITY: A fisheries expert has recommended measures to curb postharvest fish losses after environmental group Oceana disclosed these have reached 38.39 percent in some coastal areas in Northern Samar from harvesting to marketing stages.
Based on the report shared by the Northern Samar provincial planning and development office on Wednesday, these losses have been noted in the mainland towns of Allen, Victoria, and San Isidro, as well as the island towns of Capul, San Antonio, and San Vicente.
These areas are members of the San Bernardino Local Government Alliance of Northern Samar (SABELANS), the site of the study by Oceana.
Of all towns assessed, fishers in San Vicente reported the highest physical loss in the fishing stage during glut season for tuna and sardines. Quality loss is notably high (85 percent) due to a lack of cold storage and processing facilities.
‘For Allen town, quality loss is the predominant type of loss or reduction of price due to loss of freshness, physical damage, and substa
ndard size of export species. The predominant type of post-harvest fish loss in San Antonio are quality and market force losses,’ said lawyer Rhea Yray-Frossard, campaign and research director of Oceana Philippines, during a meeting with Northern Samar officials on Aug. 20 in Catarman town.
In Victoria town, the bulk of the catch of local fishermen is transported to the capital towns and Luzon through a wholesaler-trader. Market force loss is highest at 75 percent during the glut season for anchovy, sardines, and tuna species.
With regards to the food distribution chain in San Isidro towns, reported losses are relatively minimal due to the short trading chain.
‘The involvement of a consolidator is among their noteworthy characteristics. Similarly, reported losses in Capul are relatively lower due to the adoption of technology and the involvement of a broker,’ Frossard added.
The main objective of the study was to generate baseline and key information on postharvest fish losses and fish consumption in sele
cted coastal communities along the Samar Sea, particularly in Northern Samar along the San Bernardino Strait and along Samar bays and channels.
During the presentation of findings, Dr. Ronelie Salvador, dean of the College of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources at the University of Eastern Philippines, shared some recommendations to curb postharvest fish losses.
Among these is the accurate quantification of losses at each stage in the distribution chain. Catch reporting and monitoring systems must be improved and institutionalized.
The provision of livelihood support to mobile vendors and women is encouraged so that they can be trained on postharvest handling and preservation.
Local governments are also asked to set limitations on the fish catch volume of species reported to have high losses during peak seasons to reduce waste.
‘To reduce market force loss, marketing centers must be organized, and the price-regulating mechanism, which is area- and species-specific, must be species-specific,’ Sa
lvador said.
To reduce prevailing postharvest fish loss, the expert said postharvest facilities must be established for the processing and preservation of catch, such as cold storage facilities.
Oceana presented the findings to key officials in Northern Samar, led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, for them to come up with evidence-based policies regarding the fishery industries in their respective jurisdictions.
Source: Philippines News agency
