Supply Analysis of Ayungin

Silver therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus), also known as ayungin in the

Philippines, is one of the most abundant freshwater fisheries resources in the

Philippines' largest lake, Laguna de Bay. In a SEAFDEC press release, DR. Aya stated,

“It is sold from Php 200 to Php 800 per kilo when dried and roughly Php 500 per kilo

when fresh, depending on the season and catch.”

The Philippines is substantially reliant on aquaculture, and with overfished fish

populations, this reliance is only going to grow. Native aquaculture resources will be

very beneficial because they are better adapted to local conditions and are often more

resistant to local illnesses. Producing more local fish will provide the Philippines'

aquaculture industry a much-needed boost and offer more job opportunities

The supply of ayungin used to be extraordinarily abundant, around 6 decades

ago. The spread of invasive alien species in Laguna de Bay, on the other hand,

contributed to a decrease in ayungin output. According to the Philippine Statistics

Authority, 2021b, output fell by nearly 75% from 4, 675 t in 2002 to 1,182 t in 2020,

corresponding to a drop in value of more than 50% from USD 5, 396 in 2002 to USD 2,

387 in 2020.

It's concerning to learn that among the country's freshwater fish species,

ayungin has the biggest drop rate. The decline in ayungin output has harmed the

livelihoods of over 24,000 fishermen in Laguna de Bay, particularly small-scale fishing

communities who rely on the ayungin fishery as their primary source of food and money.

Fishermen now make less money than they did previously. Despite dwindling wild

ayungin populations, demand for this fish remained high in most regions.
References:

http://repository.seafdec.org/bitstream/20.500.12066/6671/1/Aquaculture-potential.pdf

https://thefishsite.com/articles/hatchery-breakthrough-could-save-filipino-favourite

https://www.philstar.com/business/agriculture/2017/07/15/1723995/reviving-ayungin-cult

ure-laguna https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-

congress-procee dings/2016/GRC/GRC-FNH-I-002.pdf