黑料社

MANILA, Philippines鈥擣or generations, the Samar Sea has been a lifeline for coastal communities in Northern Samar and Samar provinces. Fishing is not just an occupation; it is a way of life, a means of survival, and a cultural heritage passed down through generations.

But beneath the waves, a silent crisis is unfolding 鈥� one that threatens both food security and livelihood.

A recent study commissioned by Oceana has revealed that up to 40 percent of fish caught in these waters never make it to consumers鈥� plates, lost to spoilage, improper handling, and market inefficiencies.

This staggering waste鈥� known as postharvest fish loss (PHFL) 鈥� represents more than just spoiled seafood. It is a blow to small-scale fishers struggling with declining incomes, a threat to nutrition in some of the country鈥檚 poorest regions, and a symptom of a larger systemic failure in the Philippines鈥� fisheries sector.

The extent of the loss

Postharvest fish loss occurs when fish deteriorates in quality, loses market value, or is discarded entirely before it can be sold.

In the Samar Sea, the Oceana study found that the average postharvest fish loss is 38.39 percent in municipalities along the San Bernardino Strait and 40.34 percent in those along Samar Bays and Channels.

The species most wasted are sardines, anchovies, and slipmouth 鈥� staples in the diets of low-income households. For communities where 75.1 percent of Northern Samar鈥檚 population and 60.5 percent of Samar鈥檚 population have experienced food insecurity, these losses are devastating.

This is not an isolated problem. Across the Philippines, postharvest fish losses have long plagued the industry.

A study published in 2022 found that the country loses up to 40% of its total fisheries output due to spoilage, handling issues, and lack of storage infrastructure. The situation in Samar mirrors a national crisis that has yet to see meaningful intervention.

READ: PH post-harvest fish losses need more than band-aid solutions, gov鈥檛 told

鈥淚t鈥檚 alarming that almost half of the fish catch is lost before they are landed or rots before they are sold,鈥� Oceana Philippines Vice President lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos said previously.

鈥淲hen we address this, imagine how much of a positive difference this will make for coastal communities and the lives of poor families,鈥� she added.

Poor infrastructure, weak market systems

Oceana pointed to multiple causes of postharvest fish loss in the Samar Sea:

• Poor handling and storage: Inadequate landing facilities and cold storage lead to significant spoilage. Fish are often exposed to the sun and air in open markets, reducing their shelf life and quality.
• Market force losses: Fishers frequently sell their catch at lower-than-optimal prices due to inefficient supply chains, where middlemen take a large cut before the fish even reaches consumers.
• Physical loss: Bad weather, harmful algal blooms, and improper storage force fishers to discard large portions of their catch.

Despite government initiatives like the Community Fish Landing Centers (CFLCs), meant to improve fish storage and marketing, these facilities remain underutilized. Many lack proper cold storage and processing equipment, rendering them ineffective in solving the problem.

Wasted opportunity in a malnourished region

The irony is hard to ignore: while fish is lost at alarming rates, the very communities catching them suffer from malnutrition.

According to the National Nutrition Council, high rates of stunting, wasting, and iodine deficiency in Northern Samar and Samar indicate insufficient protein and fish intake.

If even half of the lost fish was salvaged through better handling and infrastructure, it could significantly improve food availability and nutrition in these provinces. Fish species like anchovies, sardines, and rabbitfish are rich in protein, Vitamin A, and iron 鈥� nutrients that could help combat undernutrition in the region.

Oceana previously noted that in addition to suffering from malnourishment, municipal and artisanal fishers across the country 鈥� who produce nutritious food 鈥� face food insecurity and continue to be among the poorest of the poor.

鈥淸D]espite the availability of locally caught fish, food security and fish consumption is decreasing over time, particularly in low-income and rural households, because of the increasing price of food, a growing population, unsustainable development, and impacts from natural disasters (climate change), and lingering effects of the pandemic,鈥� the group said.

鈥淗ence, it strongly recommends to prioritize the sustainable management of our fisheries and the wellbeing of artisanal fisherfolks for food and nutritional security and livelihoods to reduce hunger and poverty incidence in the Philippines.鈥�

What needs to change?

According to the study, addressing postharvest fish loss requires a comprehensive approach rooted in effective policies and infrastructure development.

Establishing robust fish catch monitoring and reporting systems is crucial to ensure accurate data collection and inform sustainable management strategies. Training women and mobile peddlers in postharvest handling and processing could help minimize quality loss and improve income opportunities within fishing communities.

Additionally, implementing organized marketing systems would strengthen market linkages between fishers, aquafarmers, and buyers, reducing inefficiencies in the supply chain.

Investment in cold storage and processing facilities is another key solution suggested by Oceana, providing year-round access to fresh seafood while minimizing spoilage.

Meanwhile, refurbishing non-operational CFLCs into multi-purpose storage and processing hubs could help address infrastructure gaps. Introducing area- and species-specific price regulations would also stabilize fish prices and protect fisherfolk from market force losses.

On a broader scale, the group recommended integrating the fisheries sector into KADIWA stores to enhance market access for small-scale fishers, making nutrient-rich fish more available to underserved communities.

Moreover, utilizing readily available fish species in nutritional programs, particularly for addressing wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies, could also help combat malnutrition in coastal regions:

• For wasting and stunting: Frigate tuna, anchovy, milkfish, round scad, rabbitfish, and sardines can provide 16 percent to聽26 percent聽of the Recommended Energy Intake (REI) of protein per meal.
• For Vitamin A deficiency: Rabbitfish, milkfish, anchovy, and frigate tuna can provide 10percent to聽15 percent of the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI).
• For Iron deficiency: Anchovy, sardines, frigate tuna, and milkfish can supply 8 percent to聽12 percent of the RNI for iron.

Daram: A model for reducing PHFL

A promising model for reducing postharvest fish loss can be found in Daram, Samar, where a P249.8 million investment has been set in motion to support coastal communities and minimize fish wastage.

Daram, which has the longest coastline and largest municipal waters in the Samar Sea, heavily depends on fishing. However, its fisherfolk have long faced issues such as a lack of storage facilities, market instability, and climate change impacts on fish supply and livelihoods.

Based on Oceana鈥檚 study findings, the fish trading system in Daram, where many catches are sold at sea, is a major contributor to the postharvest fish losses in Samar. This leads to unrecorded landings and price fluctuations.

To counter these challenges, the local government and fisherfolk, with assistance from Oceana and national agencies, have developed a five-year plan to cut postharvest losses from 40 percent to 10 percent.

This initiative includes:

• Infrastructure development: Constructing access roads, fish landing centers, and storage facilities.
• Equipment acquisition: Providing cold storage units, drying facilities, and fish processing tools.
• Skills training and values formation: Teaching fisherfolk proper handling, processing, and sustainable fishing techniques.

鈥淭he local plan in Daram supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 Philippine Development Plan to manage harvest waste,鈥� said Oceana Philippines campaign and research director Rhea Yray-Frossard.

鈥淭he project aims to prevent loss of essential fish nutrients and wastage of fish catch during peak seasons by establishing facilities that support proper handling, processing, and storage,鈥� she noted.

Vice Mayor Lucia Astorg acknowledged that while Daram has vast marine resources, a lack of cold storage, drying facilities, and organized market access has led to fish wastage. Additionally, the seasonality of sardines results in drastic price fluctuations, forcing fisherfolk to discard excess fish during peak seasons due to a lack of buyers.

By improving handling, processing, and storage facilities, the initiative aims to prevent fish nutrient loss, stabilize prices, and minimize waste. The campaign will directly benefit 9,293 residents across 10 coastal villages in Daram.

The urgency of action

Postharvest fish loss is a crisis hiding in plain sight 鈥� one that affects not just fishers but entire communities dependent on the sea for sustenance. In the Samar Sea, where the effects of this loss are most pronounced, tackling this issue could mean the difference between a thriving coastal economy and deepening poverty.

For too long, solutions have been patchwork 鈥� band-aid fixes on a systemic problem. If the government and stakeholders fail to act decisively, the losses will continue, robbing both fishers and consumers of a vital resource.

With the Supreme Court鈥檚 controversial ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters, the pressure on small-scale fishers has never been greater. Addressing postharvest loss is not just about economic gain; it is about securing food, livelihoods, and the future of Philippine fisheries.

READ: Fish harvest drops to lowest amid legal fight over municipal waters

READ: Scientists urge SC: Protect fisherfolk鈥檚 rights, municipal waters

The question now is: Will the government step up before more fish 鈥� and opportunities 鈥� are lost to the sea?

Graphics by聽Ed Lustan/Inquirer.net. Sources: Oceana, SB No. 541, HB No. 473