The Manila Times carried news of an impending shortage of sardines for canning by the executive director of the Philippine Sardine Canners Association.
According to the article, although there is currently no shortage of canned goods themselves, this year's catch is only 20-40% of last year's, and there is concern about a sardine shortage due to the sardines' spawning period from December to February of the following year, when there is a fishing ban.
Commercial fishing vessels are responsible for canning sardines, but they are only allowed to fish in waters more than 15 kilometers from the coast.
There are more sardines near the coast, but commercial fishing vessels are not allowed to operate in those waters because they are municipally controlled waters. They are insisting that they be allowed to operate in these waters as well, as they will not affect the coastal fishermen.
Although the Philippines boasts the world's largest production of canned sardines, the retail price is 20 to 21 pesos (less than 50 Japanese yen) per 155 gram can, and the same size canned sardines are sold for twice as much in Indonesia, 2.7 times as much in the United States, and eight times as much in England.
We buy canned sardines called LIGO and they are often on the table. We buy them at Don Quijote for about 120 to 130 yen. They are also sold well in the Philippines, but the country of origin is Thailand.
In any case, canned sardines are indispensable to the general public, so we hope for a stable supply in the future.
