Manila to host international fishing gab

DAVAO CITY – The Philippine tuna industry may be facing stiff competition in the US and European markets, but the situation has not dampened the country’s enthusiasm in supporting initiatives that would manage and sustain Asia Pacific’s rich fish stock resources.

From Nov. 18 to 22, Manila will play host to the third "Preparatory Conference for the Establishment of a Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific."

"By hosting this conference, our country is sending a strong signal to the international community that it is a responsible partner in managing the resources of the Pacific Ocean," explains Renne Subido of the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

Subido notes that fishing activities in almost all parts of the globe are now being regulated, as countries realize the urgent need to protect their respective fish stocks. "If we are not assured [of a sustainable source] of these stocks, our industry just might be among those to be adversely affected in the future."

Dubbed "PrepCon 3," the conference is a "government to government" collaborative effort among United Nations member-countries to manage and oversee the allocation of fish resources in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. It is an offshoot of a multilateral high-level conference (MHLC) convened by the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency in 1994 among 27 countries that have a stake in the fish resources.

Following five more MHLC meetings, the draft "Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific" was adopted on Sept. 4, 2000. The body similarly passed a resolution to organize a preparatory conference that would prepare the procedures, rules and regulations for the commission tasked to implement the 1982 UN Convention.

Subido maintains that trade issues would not be discussed during PrepCon 3, as talks would center on resource management and preservation. He however views the conference as an opportunity for the tuna industry "to gain better access to the [fish] resources the country shares with its Western and Central Pacific neighbors."

He adds: "The local tuna industry should take these [trade] issues one step at a time. By first focusing on resource management, we are laying down the groundwork that would eventually secure for us increased trade access to international markets."

The participating countries to PrepCon 3 are Australia, Canada, China, Cook Island, the European Commission, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Ecuador, Mexico and the Russian Federation will sit in as observer states.

Inter-governmental organizations expected to take part in the conference are South Pacific regional organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, Commission for the Conservation of Antartic Marine Living Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Forum Secretariat, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, Pacific Community, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, University of the South Pacific, and Western Pacific Fisheries Consultative Committee. – GEM Program