The Department of Agriculture announced that it will enforce a 250,000‑metric‑ton quota on fish imports at the end of the fishing season in the fourth quarter.
The restriction was initially scheduled to take effect on August 1, but officials postponed it because of El Niño and a plentiful supply of fish.
With the fishing season extended, authorities expect the quota to be triggered in October or November.
The 250,000‑MT cap has been declared final, and officials note that seafood prices remain stable.
A March circular established the guidelines for activating the quota, allocating 10,000 MT to the KADIWA program and distributing the remaining 240,000 MT—80% to commercial importers and 20% to associations and cooperatives.
The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council recommends issuing a Certificate of Necessity to Import, setting the maximum volume at 250,000 MT.
