Fisheries wants input in RP, Japan talks

A non-government organization (NGO) in the local fisheries sector has urged the Philippine government to include socio-environmental costs and sustainability in production in the ongoing bilateral trade talks with Japan.

The Tambuyog Development Center (TDC) voiced its concern during a recent public hearing conducted by the Tariff Commission to gather consensus on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

"The fisheries sector cannot support tariff reductions for our fishery exports with Japan unless the issues of socio-environmental costs and sustainability in production, especially in the aquaculture and commercial fisheries sub-sectors, are addressed effectively by our government," said TDC spokesperson Jaime Escober.

Under the agreement, duty-free trade between the two markets will be implemented for 10 years.

Escober said the government cannot confine negotiations to mere market access and tariffs. "One million small fishermen and their families are the ones who bear the consequences of unsustainable and destructive production methods in fisheries," said Escober.

He pointed out data showing that only 139,735 hectares of mangrove areas remain out of 418,990 hectares in 1967, or a total loss of 279,255 hectares lost mostly to aquaculture. Since a hectare of mangroves is able to support 600 kilos of wild fish per year, 279,255 hectares mean a total loss of 167,553,000 kilos of wild fish per year.

Thus, prices of aquaculture exports to Japan, particularly prawn exports, are actually under-priced. This is deriving unfair advantage at the expense of the fisherfolk and coastal communities.

TDC said the government should also address the problem of market externalities.

"One reason is sustainability. Another is that there is now a strong lobby for eco-labeling in Europe and the United States. Who knows if these countries will not adopt it in the next 10 years, along with Japan and the World Trade Organization? Our domestic aquaculture industry had better be prepared," said Escober.