Ocean economy doing great —PSA

The Philippine ocean-based industries reached over PHP1 trillion last year, accounting for almost 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

Data released Thursday showed that the country’s ocean economy went up by 5.3 percent to PHP1.08 trillion in 2025 from PHP1.02 trillion in 2024.

The gross value added of ocean-based activities contributed 3.8 percent to the GDP at current prices in 2025.

Industries which recorded the highest growth include marine safety, surveillance and resource management (31.7 percent), marine insurance (29.6 percent) and transportation and storage (10.8 percent).

Among the ocean-based activities, ocean fishing accounted for the highest share of the total ocean economy at 24.1 percent.

This was followed by manufacture of ocean-based products (21.3 percent), sea-based transportation and storage (16.3 percent) and coastal accommodation and food and beverage services activities (12.1 percent).

PSA data showed that the number of persons employed in ocean-based industries went up by 3.4 percent to 2.46 million last year from 2.38 million in 2024.

The PSA said the number of employed persons in ocean-based activities accounted for 5 percent of the country’s total employment in 2025.

Among the ocean-based activities, ocean fishing accounted for the largest share of the total ocean-based employment with 37.8 percent, followed by sea-based transportation and storage, and coastal accommodation and food and beverage services activities. (PNA)