For decades, Capiz has worn its crown proudly as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines. Along Baybay in Roxas City, the scent of grilled scallops and oysters rises with the tide. Fisherfolk head out before sunrise to the vast waters of the Sibuyan Sea, carrying with them not only nets but family legacies. Fishing is more than livelihood here. It is identity. It is history. It is pride.
But pride alone cannot anchor an economy forever.
Can Capiz still lean on fish? An uncomfortable question ,yet, necessary. Climate change is reshaping coastlines. Overfishing strains marine resources. Younger generations are drifting away from boats and toward business process outsourcing, digital freelancing, and entrepreneurship. The sea remains generous, but it is no longer predictable.
Across the province of Capiz, change is visible. Cafes and small tech startups quietly grow in urban corners. Tourism potential stretches beyond seafood platters to heritage sites, river cruises, and farm experiences. Agricultural innovation is stepping up. Even renewable energy conversations are entering local development plans. The economy is widening its nets.
Still, there is tension. Some fear that modernization will dilute Capiz’s seafood identity. Others argue that depending too much on fishing makes the province vulnerable. When typhoons hit or fish stocks drop, entire communities feel the loss. A single-industry backbone bends easily under pressure.
What if the future of Capiz is not about choosing between seafood and modern enterprise, but about weaving them together?
Imagine smarter aquaculture using sustainable practices. Imagine seafood brands processed locally and marketed globally through e-commerce. Imagine coastal tourism that protects marine ecosystems while creating jobs beyond the fishing boat. The same waters that built Capiz can inspire innovation instead of limiting it.
Progress does not require abandoning tradition. It demands strengthening it through adaptation.
Capiz will always be tied to the rhythm of waves. But the province cannot sail forward with one paddle. The real challenge is not whether Capiz can still lean on fish. The real question is whether it can learn to stand on more than one pillar.
If the province balances heritage with innovation, the title “Seafood Capital” will not fade. It will evolve, anchored in history yet open to the horizon.
