13th NATIONAL TUNA CONGRESS

MESSAGE OF
HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
13th NATIONAL TUNA CONGRESS
FAMILY COUNTRY HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER,
GENERAL SANTOS CITY
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
(to be delivered by Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala)

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. It is a great pleasure to be with you all today on behalf of the President. Allow me to share with you his message on this occasion.

The fishing industry is one of the sectors that strengthens our country’s current position and continuing ambition to be a leader in the field of food and agribusiness. The Philippines is the eighth largest producer of fishery products in the world, with our annual harvest reaching around five million tons.

And within the fishing industry, perhaps it can be said that no other sector thrives more than the tuna sector, which accounts for, more or less, 12% of the country’s total fish production, and which generates jobs for 120,000 workers, and around 280 million dollars in annual export earnings.

The total landings in the Philippines exceed 400,000 metric tons annually, making us second in world tuna catches and fifth among canned tuna producers.

The private sector—especially your federation of purse seine and hard-line fishing groups, canners, processors and technology support providers—has played and continues to play a principal role in solidifying the industry and enhancing our global competitiveness. For this, and for the work you continue to do in support of fishing and other related industries, you have my deepest thanks.

Yet, despite these bright statistics, reality shows us that we have much work ahead of us. In recent years, the industry has suffered dwindling catches due to overfishing; and this has been further compounded by the existing ban by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission on all fishing operations in the high seas packets 1 and 2.

At the same time, cost of production continues to rise along with the price of oil, as oil and fuel account for more than half of operating expenditures. International poaching also remains a critical issue, giving local fishers unnecessary and undue competition for increasingly limited resources.

Over the long term, we will also have to confront the potentially catastrophic impact of climate on tuna production. Experts warn that increasing surface ocean temperatures may change the frequency and duration of El Niño cycles and may affect fish migration patterns. These changes may lower overall productivity and alter the spatial distribution of tuna stocks in the long run.

We have indeed been blessed with a thriving industry, yet what these realities show us is that we must alter our mindset and methods to reflect the needs of this industry. Thus, both the government and stakeholders in the tuna fishery business—whether tuna fishing fleets or processors—must work even more closely to support the industry’s sustainability and profitability. The time to turn our vision for the industry into reality is now. We must, as your theme states, display through both word and action our shared commitment toward caring for the industry’s longevity and sustainability.

Our present strategy puts sustainable progress at the forefront of our development agenda. Today, public and private investments in the development of Mindanao’s tuna industry proceed with a concern for lasting prosperity—particularly through reforms and investments that will maintain tuna catches at sustainable levels; boost R&D capabilities to support the steady—yet responsible—growth of your enterprise; ensure equitable use of resources through a just and fair distribution of allowable catches; and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through more vigilant monitoring, control and surveillance operations.

We will continuously pursue bilateral agreements with neighboring countries and territories on access to expand our fishing grounds. In this regard, I support your call for the formation of a dedicated high level negotiating team that will pursue such talks, notably with Indonesia, Palau, the Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia, to name a few. The DA-BFAR and DFA will spearhead this effort.

The global tuna industry is becoming more competitive with new entrants, growing demand and increased regulations. To stay competitive, we will advocate adherence to the safety and quality requirements of importing countries, even as we fight for just international trade agreements and practices. We are strengthening our regulatory bodies to address the specific and separate needs of inspection and product certification; we will continue to educate our plant and cannery inspectors in auditing and in international food regulations; and we have already increased our quality assurance and food safety systems to cover the entire production chain—from harvesting to manufacturing and processing.

From your end, I ask for your support and cooperation. For instance, on the risk-based inspection or audit system we have set up for the very competitive European market—we must make sure that it works in compliance with its Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point requirement. Additionally, we must remain compliant with the EU Catch Certification, which promotes legal and regulated fishing.

All in all, this would be a boost to industry competitiveness and create more jobs and opportunities not only in the city, but also into the entire SOCSKSARGEN area.

Rest assured, we will not shy away from doing our part in this endeavor. The Department of Agriculture will evaluate the proposal to include small local fishers in the government’s Fuel Subsidy Program, and make corresponding recommendations at the soonest possible time. As you know, inasmuch as we want to cover every sector affected by high oil prices, our initial Pantawid Pasada recipients exclude fisherfolk and farmers due to limited funds.

Also, while the DA initiates a review on your call for the appointment of a permanent Undersecretary for Fisheries, as provided for in the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, let me assure you that, in the meantime, you have a staunch defender and ally in Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup.

On your call for the government to pursue the Special Management Area for WCPO High Sea Pocket 1, the government—through DA BFAR—will continue to push for the reopening of that portion of the high seas, or at least secure preferential treatment for our small and medium ring-netters and purse seiners, and fresh and ice-chilled boats.

With regard to the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), I wish to inform you that the resumption of the ACEF can be expected in the soonest possible time, with the recent completion by the DA of the new guidelines that will govern the revitalized implementation of the program. With these revised guidelines, I trust that ACEF will be maximized for its intended purpose, which is to enhance the competitiveness of vital and critical industries, led by the tuna industry.

Through all these, we must keep in mind that the strength and success of our plans and programs lies in our ability to cooperate with each other, and our willingness to uphold the principle of sustainable growth. As I see the convergence of stakeholders in the public and private sectors on occasions like this, I remain hopeful for the strength and continued success of our tuna industry.

I therefore challenge your industry to continuously police your ranks, to build your own strength, and to stand strong together in times of great adversity. Together, we have started our journey along the straight and righteous path – a path that leads to a sustainable and successful tuna and fishing industry, and, ultimately, a path that leads to a better and more stable future for ourselves and for our countrymen.

In closing, let me once again commend all those present here today for their continuing efforts and initiatives to sustain and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine tuna in the global market.

Thank you, and good day.

13th NATIONAL TUNA CONGRESS
FAMILY COUNTRY HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER,
GENERAL SANTOS CITY
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala)
Resource Person to Discuss

PROSPECTS OF HIGH VALUE AQUACULTURE AND MARICULTURE AS ALTERNATIVE TO CAPTURE FISHERIES/ PUBLIC – PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS

Our marine resources are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation. Tunas, like all other migratory species, deserve a framework of regulatory measures that will address the requirements for sustainable utilization, conservation and management of the species. Reducing the level and degree of vulnerability will require serious investments in coastal zone management, monitoring, control and surveillance; stewardship of fish stocks; and a system of governance to ensure the attainment of ecological balance and protect the environment.

In this regard I am pleased to report that the Department of Agriculture is encouraging the commercial fisheries sector to diversify its investments to aquaculture or mariculture. The country gained significant strides in promoting environment-friendly aquaculture especially with the establishment of the mariculture park projects.

Among the programs and strategies DA will support are;

A. Supply of good quality seeds

This is important to ensure that the potential economic benefits of aquaculture are achieved. Through BFAR, DA has initiated the establishment of hatcheries, however its contribution to the total fry requirements of the industry is still minimal. The private sector is therefore encouraged to invest in commercial hatchery operations, ensuring consistent and adequate supply of disease resistant, quality and high yielding seeds especially for commercially important species. R & D shall support selective breeding and strain improvement, gene banking, development of hatchery protocols for new and endemic species, improve existing hatchery techniques. As for sea weeds, tissue culture and cultivar improvement by molecular techniques are encouraged.

B. ENVIRONMENT- FRIENDLY AQUACULTURE
Foremost among the strategies towards ensuring environment –friendly aquaculture is the introduction of the mariculture park (MP) concept. The MP concept is currently being promoted by BFAR and SEAFDEC as an integrated and sustainable approach to mariculture. Management in the MP is ecosystem- based and takes into consideration the ecological, social, economic and institutional aspects of development. Furthermore, the introduction of the MP concept was also viewed as a strategy to address some of the pressing problems faced by the Philippine aquaculture industry. Among these problems were: fish kills caused by environmental degradation in densely farmed area unregulated utilization of coastal waters for aquaculture, low productivity, slow adoption of technologies, inaccessibility to input suppliers & markets, and limited capital for investments. Among the matured technologies available are, Polyculture and Integrated farming. Research and Development activities on Aquaculture impact mitigation, and Carrying capacity estimation and Promotion of organic aquaculture/mariculture are already in progress.

C. Getting out from the fish meal trap
Feeds account for the biggest expenditures in the aquaculture business. To get out from this fish meal trap, organic aquaculture should be given more support and R & D of alternative feed sources shall be undertaken.

D. Healthy and wholesome aquaculture
Through BFAR in collaboration with other research institutions such as SEAFDEC-AQD, DA will provide support to;

1) Upgrading and expansion of the regional BFAR Fish Health Laboratory facilities to improve their capability for disease and chemical contaminant detection in fishery products.
2) Capacity building of Fish Health Officers and laboratory staff.
3) Harmonizing procedures and referral systems.
4) Networking and database development for in-situ prevention, diagnosis, control and mitigation of fish and shrimp diseases.
5) Intensified campaign for the registration/accreditation of grow-out farms and hatcheries.
6) Regular monitoring and evaluation of aquaculture farms and hatcheries.
7) Issuance of Fisheries Administrative Orders (FAO) to regulate use of chemicals in aquaculture.
8) IEC initiatives to apply the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in Aquaculture.

E. Aquaculture for rural development

Considering the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, aquaculture has a big potential for promoting economic development in rural coastal communities. BFAR’s introduction of the mariculture concept is also a strategy for encouraging local fisherfolk to go into sustainable fish culture where negative impacts associated with the practice are managed, mitigated or are avoided through proper planning and management. However, DA did not only focus on mariculture this past decade, other strategies were formulated and are currently being undertaken to promote aquaculture as an integrated rural development approach. Some of these are:

• Developing community-based hatchery projects for commercially important aquaculture species;
• Milkfish fry production projects in selected rural areas to provide llivelihood and at the same time ensure the supply of good quality fry for the milkfish industry
• Promoted integrated aquaculture with land based activities of farmers in collaboration with other government agencies and local government units
• Restoration of mangrove vegetation in the coastal areas will also be supported in order to regenerate the habitat of marine species. Fisherfolks shall likewise provided inputs and technology of aqua-silvi culture for their livelihood.