2nd of three parts
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/05 February) — The two-year ban has impacted the volume of landing of tuna at the General Santos City fishing port complex.
General Santos Fish Port Complex
Annual Volume of Landing
Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Market 1 6,186.94 7,040.98 6,998.44 12,680.45 20,194.42
Market 2 32,746.59 32,108.78 26,174.45 29,508.16 29,760.92
Market 3 9,061.13 12,407.12 16,882.27 21,317.37 33,369.04
Market 4 – 346.76 525.77 1,557.58 –
Wharf 1 (Foreign frozen) 53,101.04 70,529.55 72,557.87 26,206.70 21,044.82
Wharf 2 (Manila frozen) 11,796.11 20,705.98 20,177.52 20,989.04 1,320.99
TOTALS 112,891.81 143,139.17 143,316.32 112,259.30 105,690.19
Source: Philippine Fisheries Development Authority
Landings at Market 3 are catches by big purse seine tuna operators where majority of the volume goes to the canning plants. Market 2 catch covers all fish species (including aqua and marine culture) caught by both commercial municipal fishermen and which largely go to the local market.[]/a> with |||
He estimates that the government needs at least P1.2 billion (US$27.7 million) to address this measure.
“Anything that will help the local tuna industry become more sustainable,” said Tan, who three years ago sold his two fleets of super seiners because of increased production costs.
A single medium-sized tuna fishing fleet consisting of mother boat, service and other auxiliary vessels including a set of 30 to 60 fish aggregating devices could cost up to P30 million (US$700,000).
Tan and Heitz are also in favour of a moratorium on tuna fishing during spawning season or reducing vessel fishing days.
Heitz said the Philippine government can look into the state of sardine (tamban) production in the country. Last year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources began implementing a moratorium on commercial sardine fishing after a noticeable and dramatic decline of catch. He said, it could also work in the tuna industry by strictly enforcing regulations on net mess sizes and sizes of allowable tuna catches. (Tomorrow: Looking Outside or Capital Flight?) [Edwin G. Espejo writes for the asiancorrespondent.com)
