Philippines Allocates 60,000 MT Import Quota for Frozen Small Pelagic Fish to Offset Supply Gap During Fishing Ban Season

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 Certificate of Necessity for Importation (CNI). It reflects the Philippines’ management approach of closely aligning aquatic import policies with domestic fishing cycles.

Policy Details: Quota Allocation, Application Schedule and Regulatory Requirements

The Philippine Department of Agriculture issued Department Advisory No. 47 of 2026 on September 2, which was publicly released on September 3.

• Total quota: 60,000 metric tons. Of this volume, 50,000 MT will be supplied to regular wet markets for daily public consumption, and the remaining 10,000 MT is reserved for the "Kadiwa ng Pangulo" livelihood program to provide affordable food supplies.

• Application timeline: Import applications opened on September 14. Applications for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import permits close on December 15.

Differentiated rules apply to quota distribution: 90% of the quota is allocated to commercial fishing enterprises based on their catch records over the past three years, while the remaining 10% is assigned to compliant fishery cooperatives. Enterprises applying for commercial quotas must submit 3-year catch records certified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); entities without such records are ineligible to apply.

Stringent import supervision rules are also enforced: SPS import permits are valid for only 60 days. Cargo cannot be loaded prior to the issuance of permits, and non-compliant shipments will be confiscated. Imported fish must be stored in officially accredited cold storage facilities. The import plan pursues dual goals of supply stability and market regulation rather than full liberalization.

Policy Background: Domestic Supply Shortage Triggered by Fishing Ban

The Philippines implements regular marine fishing bans to conserve stocks of small pelagic commercial fish such as bigeye scad, mackerel and round scad. Take Davao Gulf as an example: its 2026 fishing ban ran from June to August, with fishing operations resuming only on September 1.

Small pelagic fish are staple seafood widely consumed in Philippine wet markets. Domestic landings drop sharply during closed fishing periods. By opening import applications in mid-September, the Department of Agriculture makes advance arrangements to stock up supplies, addressing market pressure in the upcoming non-fishing season and preventing stockouts and steep fish price hikes.

Industry Insights: Aquatic Imports as a Supporting Tool for Domestic Fishery Regulation

1. Imports are more than pure trade activities; they serve as supporting instruments for domestic fishery policies. The Philippines links aquatic import quotas closely with fishing moratorium cycles. When domestic fisheries are closed for resource conservation, quotas under the CNI framework are activated to supplement the market, balancing two core objectives: fishery resource conservation and food security.

2. Quota thresholds balance the interests of large enterprises and fishery cooperatives. Quotas lean toward commercial operators with proven fishing track records, while reserving a share for cooperatives to accommodate industry realities and small stakeholders.

3. Implementation outcomes remain to be monitored. Although the policy has been published, its actual market impact depends on permit approval progress, procurement execution, and how the inflow of 60,000 MT frozen fish affects local seafood prices.

Conclusion

The Philippines’ planned import of 60,000 metric tons of frozen small pelagic fish serves as a typical case for developing countries balancing fishery resource conservation and domestic food supply. While enforcing fishing bans to protect fishery resources, the country uses planned imports to cover market shortages. Meanwhile, qualification reviews, cold storage and quarantine rules govern import circulation to avoid unregulated imports disrupting local fisheries. Global seafood traders should keep tracking the rollout of the Philippine CNI quota to capture procurement windows.

This article is compiled based on public information from Foodmate.net for industry exchange only and does not constitute trading or investment advice.