Fish production is expected to drop this March due to the unbridled surge in diesel prices, which fishers rely on to go out to sea.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya, or National Strength of the Fisherfolk Movement in the Philippines) reported that the roughly 60% increase in diesel prices are forcing small fishers to cut their fishing hours from the usual eight to 10 hours a day down to only four to six.

According to the group, a fisher normally consumes eight to 10 liters of diesel per trip. Recent increases of diesel reaching more than ₱80 per liter now requires a fisher an additional ₱640 a day just to sail out. Many fishers are consequently compelled to shorten their fishing hours, while others have temporarily stopped to avoid heavier losses. The reduced supply will certainly drive up fish market prices, the group added.

Pamalakaya slammed the government’s fuel subsidy program as “slow, grossly inadequate, and limited.” It said the ₱3,000 subsidy will cover only 23,000 out of 2.7 million fishers, and will cover only four fishing days.

Large fishing vessels have also stopped sailing because of soaring fuel prices. Big trawlers reportedly halted operations in one town in Misamis Oriental. Their owners said they now need double the previous ₱10,000 in diesel costs just to go fishing for a few days.

In another report, mussel growers in Metro Manila warned that the price of mussels could increase in the coming days because of rising fuel costs. A gallon currently sells for ₱100, but slow sales and higher gasoline expenses may force producers to raise prices or cut operations.

Pamalakaya is demanding the removal of value-added and excise taxes on diesel, which currently amount to ₱15. The group is also calling for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which allows oil companies to arbitrarily and wantonly raise the prices of petroleum products.