Fisheries Postharvest Losses in the Philippines: Estimation, Trend, Causes and Management Options

Postharvest losses (PHL) are inevitable and have been observed to varying extents at different stages of fisheries distribution. These losses are a major concern as they result in revenue loss for industry players and have negative implications for food security (Ward and Jeffries, 2000). In the Philippines, fish loss has been identified as one of the two core problems in postharvest fisheries (BFAR, 2015). The assessment of fisheries postharvest losses, conducted in selected landing and trading areas, generally aims to quantify the magnitude of postharvest losses of economically important fishery commodities, identify key practices contributing to these losses, and develop appropriate policies and strategies to mitigate them. Key results of the assessment highlight a declining trend in PHL in landing areas for both capture and aquaculture commodities from 2020 to 2022. The percentage of losses for landed capture commodities decreased from 14.31% in 2020 to 2.84% in 2022. For landed aquaculture commodities, the percentage of PHL reduced from 5.31% to 3.74%. The drastic decline in PHL in landed commodities was influenced by the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, which had caused disruptions in distribution and a reduction in market demand. However, despite minimal overall losses being reported, significant losses were observed, especially in small pelagic species. These high losses were primarily due to quality deterioration caused by undersized catches, rough handling, and damaged or low-quality fish resulting from insufficient preservation methods. PHL calculations for both capture and aquaculture commodities in trading areas showed a fluctuating trend. The highest percentage of PHL in traded capture species was 3.80% in 2022, while for traded aquaculture commodities, it was 2.48% in 2021. Archipelagic countries, such as the Philippines, are susceptible to postharvest losses due to some interconnected issues. The geographical dispersion complicates transportation and logistics, making the movement of trade from remote islands to main markets expensive and prone to delays, leading to quality deterioration. Inadequate infrastructure, such as poor roads, limited access to reliable electricity, and insufficient cold chain facilities, also exacerbates the issue by hindering efficient postharvest handling and storage. Technological gaps are another significant hurdle, as most fishers and traders lack access to modern postharvest technologies and practices. The findings underscore the importance of postharvest facilities for storage and preservation inputs, such as cold chain facilities. The formulation of policies, interventions, and the development of innovative strategies to utilize the wastes or by-products generated and reduce losses in the supply chains are essential to enhance the efficiency of food production systems, food security and nutrition, and environmental sustainability.