The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) reported a consolidated oceanic tuna catch of 201,034 metric tons in 2024.
The figure was finalized during the 18th Philippine Tuna Statistics (PTUNASTAT) Annual Catch Estimates Review Workshop, held from June 5 to 6, 2025. No annual comparative figures were given.
The workshop aimed to confirm the country’s 2024 tuna catch estimate by combining and validating data from several sources. These included the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) offices in General Santos City, Davao, and Iloilo.
The final estimate reflects improved accuracy due to harmonized data collection and analysis methods, using logbook records, cannery reports, and fisheries observer data.
Among the recommendations from PTUNASTAT-18 were promoting earlier data submission, standardizing reporting formats for catch and effort, involving BARMM’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in future reviews due to its significant contribution to tuna production, and maintaining a tracking matrix of workshop recommendations for ongoing monitoring by NFRDI.
The workshop remains a vital tool for improving the accuracy of national tuna data, which is crucial for sustainable fisheries and international reporting.
