The State of Fish in Nutrition Systems in the Philippines

The Philippines has long been ranked among the top fish producing countries in the world,
with fisheries a strategically important sector for both food security and livelihoods. However,
the livelihood and food security related benefits of Philippine fisheries have been dissipating
through time due to the overexploitation of marine resources and declines in aquaculture
production.
Recognising that seafood is an excellent source of energy, protein, and vital nutrients for
human health, this study was commissioned by Oceana to 1) determine the role of Philippine
fisheries in terms of food security and livelihoods (income and employment), both at a
national and regional scale; 2) assess future risks to food security and livelihoods in the
Philippines; and 3) provide advice to Oceana on policy options to strengthen the contribution
of fish in nutrition systems in the face of ecosystem change.
To achieve this, we first provide a brief socio-economic profile of the Philippines and then
assess the role of the Philippine commercial, municipal (marine and inland), and aquaculture
sectors in terms of their contribution to livelihoods and food security at both a national and
regional level. By consolidating available information from national government reports and
datasets, studies from the peer-reviewed literature, grey-literature reports, and importantly,
data collected by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition
Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) from 163,235 individuals (41,204 households) distributed
throughout the Philippines in 2018-19, we ensured the best available data was used to
generate contribution estimates of each sector and target/ culture species to food security
and livelihoods.
The work was undertaken in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Science and
Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) with a view to strengthen
the evidentiary link between healthy fisheries and healthy communities, as well as helping
Oceana target the highest priority policy and management areas for future work on fisheries
and food security in the Philippines.