Monday, June 04, 2007 RP bats for top rank in tuna production
THE Philippines will likely emerge as the world’s number one tuna producer once the government fully carries out a new law spurring handline fishing, forges new bilateral fishing pacts and secures greater foreign market access for the high-value produce, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, chairman of the House committee on fisheries and aquaculture, said.
Villafuerte said the Philippines now ranks as the world’s fourth biggest tuna producer. In Asia, he said the country is second to Taiwan in terms of tuna output.
Citing figures from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Villafuerte said the Philippines produced last year an estimated 500,000 tons of tuna—more than 10 percent of the world’s total yield of four million tons.
“On the demand side, we have to vigorously defend existing Philippine tuna markets abroad, apart from pushing open new outlets in North America, the European Union and Japan,” Villafuerte pointed out.
“As to the supply side, we have to negotiate new bilateral fishing accords with Malaysia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati and other neighbors, in order to allow Filipino tuna catchers greater access to some of the world’s most fertile trawling grounds,” he said.
Execute
Villafuerte also cited the need for the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to adequately execute the new Handline Fishing Law—set to be implemented starting September.
The new law is expected to further stimulate the highly lucrative tuna export industry, which provides livelihood to more than 150,000 Filipinos.
Villafuerte authored the new statute in the House, along with South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino, who recently gained national prominence for defeating world-boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the congressional race.
The new law clearly classifies the handline method—the traditional use of a single hook and line while passively waiting for the fish to bite— as a form of commercial fishing.
Access
This means thousands of handline fishermen will gain lawful access to the rich trawling grounds of international waters, Villafuerte said.
The new law amended the 1998 Fisheries Code, which did not recognize the handline mode as a form of commercial fishing.
With the old Fisheries Code silent on handline fishing, vessels engaged in this method of catching great tuna were unable to register with the Marina in the past, and thus barred from lawfully fishing in international waters.
International laws mandate each country to ensure that its boats are properly licensed to fish outside national waters. Otherwise, the boats will be barred access to international fishing grounds. (PR)
