Phl gets access to high tuna fishing grounds

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been granted extended fishing access to tuna-rich high seas pocket 1 (HSP-1) of the Pacific Ocean for one year based on the new bridging measures of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

During the 14th Regular Session of the WCPFC ending late last week, the Philippines negotiated for the access to the high seas pocket 1 which is set to expire this year.

“We were able to negotiate continuous fishing access to HSP-1. Every year it will be reviewed. We were also able to ask exemption to the additional fish aggregating device (FAD) closure,” BFAR national director Eduardo Gongona told The STAR.

While the Philippines wanted to extend the access for five more years, the Commission set new bridging measures for all countries involved.

“It’s an experiment or trial if we will stop or continue the additional two months FAD closure,” Gongona said.

In a document, the Commission said it would review the conservation and management measures on tropical tunas annually to ensure that the various provisions are having the intended effect.

“The measure shall come into effect on Feb. 6, 2018 and remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2020 unless earlier replaced or amended by the Commission,” it said.

The Philippines shall require its concerned vessels to submit reports to the

Commission at least 24 hours prior to entry and no more than six hours prior to exiting the HSP-1.

“The Philippines shall ensure that all port landings of its vessels covered by this decision are monitored and accounted for to make certain that reliable catch data by species are collected for processing and analysis,” the Commission said.

The Philippines was granted access to the high seas pocket 1 last 2013. Access would expire this year after satisfactory conservation measures are implemented on migratory fish stocks such as tuna.

The high seas pocket 1 was opened in 2011 following a two-year fishing ban in all four pockets due to declining tuna catch.

The high seas pocket 1 is a common fishing ground among countries and territories adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

High seas pocket 1 is the area of high seas bounded by the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Micronesia to the north and east, Palau to the west, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to the south.

Gaining access to the pocket means proving compliance to various conservation and management measures including regulation, policies, and technology.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, markets for tuna products continue to increase based on the growth of consumption in new regions of the world and the dissemination of sushi as a global dietary trend.

The canning industry remains the main destination for most of the world’s tuna catches, led by Thailand as the largest exporter of processed tuna globally. The sushi and sashimi market is the other main destination of tuna production, particularly red meat tuna.