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Advocates Philippines
Senator Cynthia Villar Addresses 23rd Tuna Congress, Advocates For Sustainable Fishing Practices
Photo credit: Senate PH
Senator Cynthia Villar took center stage as the guest speaker during the Closing Ceremony of the 23rd Tuna Congress in General Santos City, where she underscored the importance of adapting strategies responsive to global changes in the Philippine tuna industry.
Themed "Adapting Strategies Responsive to Global Changes," the two-day congress brought together industry experts, stakeholders, and small-scale fishers to address the pressing global challenges confronting the Philippine tuna industry and promote sustainable fishing practices.
Organized by the SocSKSargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries (SFFAII), led by President and National Tuna Congress chairman Mr. Dominic R. Salazar, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), the Cagayan de Oro City LGU, and the Department of Trade and Industry, the Congress provided a platform for small-scale fishers to voice their needs and interests.
The Philippines, as the world's second-largest global exporter of tuna, plays a pivotal role in the industry, with six commercially significant tuna species: yellowfin, skipjack, eastern little, frigate, big eye, and bullet. Major export markets for Philippine processed tuna include the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Senator Villar, known for her advocacy for sustainable fisheries, authored Republic Act 10654 in 2015, amending the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. This landmark legislation introduced the concept of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and implemented stricter penalties and sanctions to deter offenders.
Speaking on the IUU Fishing law, Senator Villar emphasized, "It prescribes the number of licenses and permits for the conduct of fishery activities, adopts the precautionary principle, and mandates the balance between over-protection and over-exploitation of fisheries resources, necessitating the installation of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)."
The implementation of a VMS is a prerequisite set by the European Union (EU) for the Philippines to enjoy zero tariffs on 6,274 products, comprising 66% of all EU tariff lines, through the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). In the previous year, the Philippines exported 2.93 billion euros worth of products to the EU under GSP+. The continuation of GSP+ benefits is contingent upon the Philippines' adherence to core human rights, labor, governance, and other sustainable development conventions, with the current GSP+ status valid until the end of 2023.
Senator Villar highlighted that IUU Fishing safeguards the welfare of fisherfolk within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, helping prevent poverty and hunger.
In light of the predicted El Niño phenomenon and the adverse effects of climate change, Senator Villar stressed the need to protect the tuna industry from overfishing and habitat degradation to prevent its collapse. She urged everyone to recognize that the ocean's resources are not limitless and must be safeguarded and sustained for future generations.
Themed "Adapting Strategies Responsive to Global Changes," the two-day congress brought together industry experts, stakeholders, and small-scale fishers to address the pressing global challenges confronting the Philippine tuna industry and promote sustainable fishing practices.
Organized by the SocSKSargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries (SFFAII), led by President and National Tuna Congress chairman Mr. Dominic R. Salazar, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), the Cagayan de Oro City LGU, and the Department of Trade and Industry, the Congress provided a platform for small-scale fishers to voice their needs and interests.
The Philippines, as the world's second-largest global exporter of tuna, plays a pivotal role in the industry, with six commercially significant tuna species: yellowfin, skipjack, eastern little, frigate, big eye, and bullet. Major export markets for Philippine processed tuna include the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Senator Villar, known for her advocacy for sustainable fisheries, authored Republic Act 10654 in 2015, amending the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. This landmark legislation introduced the concept of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and implemented stricter penalties and sanctions to deter offenders.
Speaking on the IUU Fishing law, Senator Villar emphasized, "It prescribes the number of licenses and permits for the conduct of fishery activities, adopts the precautionary principle, and mandates the balance between over-protection and over-exploitation of fisheries resources, necessitating the installation of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)."
The implementation of a VMS is a prerequisite set by the European Union (EU) for the Philippines to enjoy zero tariffs on 6,274 products, comprising 66% of all EU tariff lines, through the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). In the previous year, the Philippines exported 2.93 billion euros worth of products to the EU under GSP+. The continuation of GSP+ benefits is contingent upon the Philippines' adherence to core human rights, labor, governance, and other sustainable development conventions, with the current GSP+ status valid until the end of 2023.
Senator Villar highlighted that IUU Fishing safeguards the welfare of fisherfolk within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, helping prevent poverty and hunger.
In light of the predicted El Niño phenomenon and the adverse effects of climate change, Senator Villar stressed the need to protect the tuna industry from overfishing and habitat degradation to prevent its collapse. She urged everyone to recognize that the ocean's resources are not limitless and must be safeguarded and sustained for future generations.
Sep 7, 2023
