RP seeks to expand tuna fishing grounds

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, So. Cotabato – Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said the government is initiating separate bilateral agreements with several countries in the region to expand the local tuna industry’s fishing grounds.

"We have started talks with our counterparts in Palau, Micronesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea, to expand our fishing grounds even as our negotiations with Indonesia continue," said Panganiban before 300 participants of the 8th National Tuna Congress here.

Panganiban said several agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Mindanao Development Council are currently convincing the governments of Palau, Micronesia, Malaysia and Papa New Guinea to allow the Philippine tuna fishing fleets to have access to these countries’ rich tuna fishing territories.

"This is just one component in our efforts to help sustain the local tuna fishing industry while also working for improved market access in major tuna importing countries such as the European Union and the United States," said Panganiban.

Earlier this year, the Philippines and Indonesia signed a five-year extension of their fisheries cooperation agreement that will allow the Philippines to continue tapping Indonesia’s tuna-rich fishing grounds until 2011.

The fishing agreement which forms part of the mother bilateral trade agreement that is expected to be concluded also this year, will further boost the Philippines’ position as one of the top tuna producers and exporters of fresh frozen and processed tuna in the world.

The DA, along with the Department of Trade and Industry is also renegotiating with the European Commission (EC) to increase the volume of canned tuna shipments enjoying a lower duty of 12 percent.

Panganiban said the DA while implementing the National Tuna Mangement Plan, is also constantly fine-tuning the program to keep it in step with new problems and challenges confronting the industry.

Aside from the ongoing negotiations for tuna fishing access, Panganiban pointed out the government in collaboration with the tuna exporters are also rushing efforts to comply with the new and more stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards of the European Union (EU).