Profiling of Bagoong Production

Abstract

The fish catch in Lingayen Gulf decades ago were high-value species like groupers, snappers, sharks, and rays. Nowadays, the harvest of gulf comprises of rabbitfish, anchovies, slipmouth, and round scad because of overfishing and illegal fishing. The scarcity of fish needed in bagoong production and the different ordinances and administrative orders banning illegal fishing techniques affect the fish paste production in Lingayen. This study was conducted to describe the fish paste production. This descriptive study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to generate data from the owners and workers of fish processing business. The producers in Lingayen are now sourcing out fishes for fermentation from as far as Navotas and Malabon in Metro Manila and the Bicol region. This kind of problem is beyond the control of the producers. The water resource and systematic issues like those of administrative orders are external factors. This problem generates more problem like the cost of fish, product price and transportation expense. Fish paste producers should concentrate on these internal factors because experience, expertise and technical assistance from the business and government sectors could be the best weapon to beat the challenges of nature.