Marine Wealth

Our springs and streams supply drinking water and water to irrigate our fields, furnish power, and transport boats and barge carrying passengers and freight.

Our country is a fisherman's paradise. Lakes, rivers, and the seas surrounding the islands of our archipelago teem with more than 2,000 specie of fish. Because of this, a great many Filipinos fish for their livelihood. Among the fish commercially bought and sold in our markets are the following: bangus(milk fish), dalag (murrel) dilis, hito(catfish), kanduli, tulingan, banak, tamban, talakitok(skipjack), dalagang bukid, bisugo, galunggong, tanguige (mackerel), and lapulapu (grouper). The riches fishing areas in the country include Estancia, in Iloilo, the waters off Northern Palawan and off the Bicol Peninsula, Laguna de Bya, and Samar.

Other marine products that abound in the Philippine archipelago and are of great commercial value are pearls, edible birds, seaweeds, crabs, shrimps, and turtle eggs. Rear and expensive pearls are found in the waters off Palawan and the Sulu archipelago.

There are abundant seaweeds resources around our extensive coral reefs. Some seaweeds are used for valuable food and are a high-earning export product.