Introduction To cope with the shrinkage of domestic aquatic supply caused by the seasonal fishing ban, the Philippine Department of Agriculture has issued new regulations, planning to release an import quota of 60,000 metric tons of frozen small pelagic fish to fill the market shortage during the closed fishing season and secure domestic food supply. This import quota is not a temporary addition. It forms part of the country’s total 250,000 MT aquatic product import plan under the 2026...

Mackerel serves as a vital aquatic raw material for Japanese households, sushi processing and the canning industry. Market supply consists of domestically caught Japanese chub mackerel and imported Atlantic mackerel mainly from Norway. For the 2026 fishing season, a sharp cut in Norway’s fishing quota has pushed international export quotations of mackerel to new highs. The price surge has passed through to Japanese wholesale markets, yet end-consumer demand remains sluggish. As a result,...