A fishermen’s group has urged the government to control rising retail prices of fish, particularly galunggong (mackerel scad), as these would leave small fishermen and poor Filipinos “at a disadvantage.” In a statement on Friday, Fernando Hicap, national chairman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), said galunggong “is no longer a poor man’s fish, with its average retail price of P250 per kilogram.” According to the group, although its farmgate price is very low, this fish go through several middlemen who generate profit by marking up the price, ultimately increasing its retail price. “While the average retail price of galunggong is at P250 per kilo — [an] all-time high — its farmgate value remains [at] P60/kilo — an all-time low — leaving both small fishers and poor consumers at [a] disadvantage,” Hicap said. His organization called on the government to study the implementation of the price ceiling for galunggong and other fish species as stated in Republic Act 7581, or the “Price Act.” Also on Friday, Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan attributed the higher fish prices to the annual three-month closed fishing season in effect since November.