Reaping the gifts of the seas

摘要

Our meeting today deals with one of the most basic concerns of Filipino life. Fish is the main source of protein for the Filipino people, with each Filipino consuming 40 kilograms of fish every year. I have learned that in the Visayas, per capita consumption even goes up to 100 kilograms per person per year. fisheries, of course, have also been one of the main staples of our national economy. In 1994, fisheries contributed some P81 billion at current prices to the total agricultural output of P401 billion. Some two million fishermen and fishfarmers are directly employed by the fishing industry, and 100,000 others involved in entrepreneur-ship and cooperative activities, all benefiting some eight million families.