The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 
(WCPFC) has lifted the tuna fishing ban on pockets 1 and 2 
of the Pacific Ocean for 36 Philippine fishing vessels 
until February 2013.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson 
Luwalhati Antonino said the lifting of the ban could 
greatly benefit Mindanao’s fishing industry in particular.

WCPFC banned commercial fishing in pockets 1 and 2 of the 
high seas with the issuance of Conservation and Management 
Measure (CMM) in 2008 to help protect bigeye and yellowfin 
tuna and to limit fishing capacity growth in the region.

While the lifting of the ban is a huge success for the 
fishing sector, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources (BFAR) underscored that Filipino fishing vessels 
must stick to the fishing standards of the WCPFC.

“We must live up to the expectations of WCPFC”, said BFAR 
Director Asis Perez. “[We] [Philippines] must 
satisfactorily comply with the provisions of the CMM if we 
want to continue fishing in pockets 1 and 2 beyond 2013.”

In this light, the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and 
Allied Industries Incorporated (SFFAII) is optimistic that 
the tuna industry will keep boosting Mindanao’s economy: 
tuna remains as one its top exports, with a combined 
(fresh and frozen) value amounting to USD 11 million in 
2010. 

The US, European Union (EU) and Japan are among the top 
export destinations.

Antonino noted that the current administration recognizes 
the challenges faced by the fishing industry, which is 
precisely why MinDA plans to continue to lobby for 
measures and policy recommendations that will strengthen 
Mindanao’s economy and generate jobs for locals.

“These [challenges] must not stall us from pursuing our 
vision of growth and expansion to serve the growing 
domestic and global demands. This calls for us to 
creatively find ways to boost the [tuna] industry,” said 
Antonino.

In 2011, frozen tuna landings fell by about 19 per cent at 
the fish port complex of General Santos City as a result 
of climbing fuel costs and the standing ban on purse seine 
fishing in some areas of the Pacific Ocean.

In 2010, the unloaded volume in General Santos City stood 
at 144,812 tonnes and fell to 117,315 tonnes in 2011.