Bayani B. Fredeluces, executive director of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc., informed that two sectors of the local tuna industry, fishing and cannery businesses, are going to face the heat of Europe’s regulation slated to take effect January 1, 2010, which will also apply to other countries.
According to Fredeluces the stakeholders are then hoping to raise their concerns with European officials probably next month. He added that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has started consulting tuna industry players regarding Europe’s regulation aimed to stem illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing around the globe.
Fredeluces also opined that they will ask for clarifications on this policy and perhaps an extension (of the deadline). BFAR told us that European officials may arrive by June in the country to meet with tuna industry leaders. It is told that Europe’s fisheries product policy required tuna fish producers to provide a catch certificate that details where the stocks were caught and the volume, or in other words the traceability of the supplies.
The policy also demands that if a company ships to Europe starting next year, it should attach the catch certificate to be able to enter that market. Fredeluces explained that six of the country’s seven tuna canneries are based in this city, dubbed the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.” He also said that Europe’s policy will also burden Filipino fishing vessel operators as they need to infuse more capital to upgrade their fleet to comply with the handling requirements imposed by the foreign market.
Francisco J. Buencamino Jr., executive director of the Tuna Canners Association of the Philippines, will reportedly submit a formal request to the European Union, through the BFAR and DTI, postponing the implementation of regulation and other concerns.
