DA seeks agri, fisheries cooperation with Seychelles

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will hold bilateral talks with Seychelles this year for cooperation on agriculture and fisheries, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Alcala met recently with Seychelles ambassador to the Philippines Philippe Le Gall to discuss possible agricultural cooperation between the two republics.

These include the possible exportation of agricultural commodities from the Philippines to Seychelles and the granting of fishing rights to the Philippines.

“Seychelles is a small country which has a big shoreline and abundant marine resources. We can be granted fishing access there,” said Alcala. “We will hold bilateral talks this year.”

Seychelles, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, is well-know for its tuna production. Majority of the workers in its tuna canneries are Filipinos.

The DA is working on a similar agreement with Papua New Guinea for the expansion of Philippine fishing grounds.

Papua New Guinea is seeking the Philippines’ assistance on rice production. In turn, it may give the Philippines access to its fishing grounds for a fee.

The technical assistance exchange between the two countries is also expected to take place this year.

In 2012, The fisheries subsector suffered a 0.04 percent contraction as municipal fish production fell 3.9 percent because of the closure of the high seas and the fishing ban implemented in Zamboanga Peninsula late in 2011 until the early part of 2012.

Alcala said the fisheries subsector is expected to reverse its negative growth within the first semester of the year because of the reopening of the high seas and the fishing extension granted to the Philippines until February 2014.

The fishing ban reimposed in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayas Seas to increase the population of sardines and herring would be lifted between the end of February and early March this year.