Except for landlocked Claveria, all municipalities in Misamis Oriental are coastal, so fishing is the major source of income for most families. Misamis Oriental has three fishing grounds: Macajalar, Gingoog and Balingasag, but production is inadequate. So, the province relies on fish supply from Zamboanga, Bohol, Cotabato and Panguil Bay.
Coral reefs are present along the coastline of Macajalar Bay -- large quantities in Banbayan Point, Gorda Point in Balingasag and Constancia, and in Agutayan shoal in Jasaan.
Fish production in metric tons
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
COMMERCIAL
10,576
11,103
10,999
11,133
9,886
10,614.40
9,390.27
MUNICIPAL
8,020
7,511
7,724
7,758
7,288
7,191.02
6,987.50
AQUACULTURE
378
289
367
684
1,391
2,055.01
2,314.89
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Of interest to scientists and conservationists is the presence of two large sharks in the seas of Misamis Oriental -- the whale shark, and the rare megamouth shark. The hunting of whale sharks was a popular occupation in Talisayan and nearby towns, but this activity was ordered banned in late 90s. In May 2008, fishermen reported seeing at least
17 whale sharks in Talisayan.
In 1998, marine biologists tracked a whale shark that travelled from the municipality of Salay to South China Sea near Vietnam.
See the report.