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Seafood in the Philippines | Dumaguete Info

Seafood in the Philippines:

Seafood dishes in the Philippines

Seafood is really a big trend here in the Philippines. When you talk about seafood at any kind, it is present here in our country. Fishing is always the number one way of life here in the Philippines, that’s why Filipinos love seafood and you should also taste the Philippines seafood.

The national fish is Bangus (milk fish) and is found on sale everywhere. It has many bones, so opt for the boneless bangus if it is available. Other common delicious seafood in Philippines are tambakol, espada, tangigue, cream dory, yellow fin tuna, many varieties of prawns, oysters, squid, mussels, crabs, lobster, sea cucumber, seaweed and many others. The Philippines has always been blessed with rich fish resources due to its location. It is situated in the middle of the coral triangle, which is well known for its marine biodiversity and rich production of seafood. With one of the longest coastlines in the world, much of the Filipino population lives along the coast in order take advantage of these resources for both nutrition and livelihoods. The number of people working in the Filipino fisheries sector is estimated at around 1 million. The business of fishing is central to the economy and culture of the islands.

Fried Tilapia

Seafood is also good for the health. Fish and shellfish are a good source of protein and other vitamins and minerals. Fish are naturally low in fat and many fish contain the highly beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is essential in helping to process food for energy. They are considered important for the functioning of the brain, eyes and nerves and evidence suggests omega-3 fatty acids also reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Fish that are high in omega-3 are the oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout and herring. Some shellfish, such as mussels, oysters and crab are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Many types of seafood contain an important ingredient called Omega-3, which is a fatty acid that must be consumed through food, as the body does not produce it on its own. Don’t let the words “fatty acid” scare you! This is a healthy fatty acid that has a number of benefits including improving cardiovascular health and neurological development, reducing tissue inflammation, correcting heart arrhythmia, and preventing weight gain, heart failure, strokes, and diabetes, as well as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Fish and seafood are some of main sources of nutrition and this has always been reflected in the Filipino culinary culture. Filipino cuisines such as the paellas, adobo, sinigang and tapa, all have seafood as main ingredients. There is much talk these days about the overfishing of our oceans and the irreparable damage being done to coral reefs and other sea habitats due to commercial fishing practices. Fish and shellfish as food keeps gaining in popularity, particularly with the health benefits that are constantly touted. But you can see it all here in our country, the Philippines.