Vol. 1 No. 2 September 2018
SFFAII convenes 20th National Tuna Congress
For the past nineteen (19) years, the SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) has hosted the Naonal
SFFAII launches 1st
Tuna Congress every September except for the 1st Naonal Tuna
Coffee Table Book
Congress which was hosted by the Department of Tr Trade ade and Industry-General Santos City. SFFAII SFFAII has never wavered in its commitment to mount the Congress every year, a strong testament of the leadership role it has fully embraced and passionately executed. This year’s event serves as a milestone for SFFAII because it is the 20th Page 2
“Tuna: At the Heart of General Santos” comes out this month! Who would have thought that General Santos City would become the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”? In
Region 12, the shing industry nds its nucleus in GenSan, providing thousands of jobs and generang millions of for Committee Meeting. The Meeting. The 20th National Tuna Congress Program and Resolutions Committee chaired by SFFAII Director Dominic R. Salazar, held a series of meetings to tackle the updates on the Resolutions adopted during the 19th National Tuna Congress in September 2017.
Contact Nos. Nos. (83) (83) 8261042 8261042 / 8261047 8261047
eign exchange earnings. The growth of the city is closely linked to the Tuna Industry. Page 11
Fax: (83) (83) 5529736 5529736 Email: shing.federation@gmail
[email protected] .com sffaii1999@yahoo
[email protected] .com Ofcial Website: https://www. https://www.sffaii.com sffaii.com
President’s Note
Joaquin T. Lu
Fresh Frozen Seafood Associaon of the Philippines, Inc. or FF SAPI has opened their new training center in August, this year at TM building, Yumang Street, General Santos City. The training center
This is it! The 20th Naonal Tuna Congress is about to unfold! It is always a pleasure to mount the event every year. We see familiar faces and new faces. We strengthen and renew old bonds and build
gat whose life is anchored on the bounty of the sea. Life is about living and giving. Life is about taking stock of what we have and, if and when, given the chance to occupy a leadership
agement Zones (TCMZ) for handliners in the Celebes Sea at the Gen-
Consorum and Marine Stewardship Council.
April, this year. The establishment of TCMZs in Philippine waters is
a naonal priority project of the DA-BFAR. One of its objecves is to contribute in the aainment of sh food security and sustainable Tuna producon and livelihood. TCMZs are areas where Fish Aggre-
SSOP, and a full course on Hazard Analysis Crical Control Point or HACCP to dierent industries, including the Micro, Small, and Medi-
gang Devices (FADs) or “payaw” will be deployed in clusters and used exclusively for handline shing.
um Enterprises and the Academia. DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol spoke at the Tuna Conservation and Management Zone in the Celebes Sea l aunching ceremony participated by stakehold-
based in GenSan and the municipalies of Alabel, Malapatan, Glan,
ers and handliners.
Piñol encouraged sherfolks to avail of the nancial assistance oered by DA through the Producon Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program, a special credit program designed to address the nancial needs of marginal and small farmers, oering non-collateralized
of the Mananagat whose very means of survi val is deeply connected with the sea and whose welfare should be primordial in our interests as a big lobby group. That in the end, it’s not only about the industry, but also about the man and woman who make the backbone of the industry – the Mananagat.
loans for agri-shery producon. Secretary Piñol alloed P50-mil lion pesos exclusively for the handline operaons of the concerned Tuna handliners.
To quote Vincent Van Gogh: The shermen know that the sea is
God bless the Mananagat! God bless the Tuna Industry!
DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol led the turnover of sixty (60) units of FAD to members of the Alliance of Tuna Handliners (ATH) Kiamba, and Maitum in Sarangani Province.
We hope that this 20th Naonal Tuna Congress is not only an occasion for learning new things and building relaonships, but more importantly, to look at the bigger picture, that is, upliing the lives
dangers sucient reason for remaining ashore.
eral Santos City Fishport Complex, Tambler, General Santos City in
The center also oers training acvies on Good Manufacturing Pracces or GMP GMP,, Sanitaon Standard Operang Procedures or
posion, to use that post to help many others. For by enriching the lives of the regular folks, we enrich our lives ten mes over.
dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquat ic Resources (DA-BFAR) launched the Tuna Conservaon and Man -
will cater to the organizaon’s members’ need for industry updates and compliance with the required cercaons like Brish Retail
new ones. It’s always a me for new beginnings. We invite everyone to join us as we connue our advocacy to protect our God-given seas and look aer the welfare of our Manana-
Tuna conservation zones established; Handliners receive payaw from BFAR
FFSAPI opens Training Center
Training Center Opens. Gerald Jazmin, serving on the Board of Trustees of Fresh Frozen Seafood Association of the Philippines, Inc. (FFSAPI), and Patricia Santos, wife and representative of Jose Emmanuel M. Santos, FFSAPI President, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of the training center.
ATH chairperson Dario Lauron expressed gratude, especial ly for the payaw and other DA-BFAR projects and programs, that would surely help the handliners develop their shing acvies.
DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol turned over sixty (60) units of payaw to members of Alliance of Tuna Handliners in Sarangani and General Santos City.
Orientation for MSC certification set THE MANANAGAT CHRONICLE EDITORIAL BOARD
SFFAII convenes... From page 1 year. This year’s apt theme is “20 Years and Beyond: Connuing the Remarkable Convergence”. The 20th Naonal Tuna Congress (Tuna Congress) will be held on September 5-7, 2018, at SM Trade Halls,
Editorial Consultants
Joaquin T. Lu Rosanna Bernadette B. Contreras
3rd Floor, SM City General Santos in General Santos City.
The event is expected to convene eight hundred (800) parc ipants coming from the dierent sectors of the shing industry in
Writers/Contributors
Shalimar S. Abdurahman Christina Y. Cañete Virgie A. de Dios Eric C. Sison Mary Jean S. Villegas Genory Vanz S. Alfasain The Mananagat Chronicle is published bi-annually by the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. GenSan Fishport Complex, Tambler, General Santos City, Phillipines. All rights reserved. 2018.
the country and abroad. Important stakeholders from government agencies are also expected. The three-day Congress will have pre-
sentaons and workshops covering the following areas of interest: cercaon and monitoring, issues and concerns, and the impor tance of sustainable shing in the shing industry. The Tuna Con gress will also launch the Naonal Tuna Management Plan of 2018 and will give an update on the Electronic Catch Documentaon and Traceability System. The Tuna Congress is an excellent venue for networking oppor-
tunies. The parcipants are aorded the chance to showcase their products and services while keeping abreast with the latest updates of the Philippine Tuna Industry.
2 | The Mananagat Chronicle
Fresh Frozen Seafood Associaon-Tuna Processors Philip-
the blue MSC label guarantees the buyer that the product is trace-
pines, Inc. (FFSA-TPPI) accomplished a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard Cercaon Orientaon on May 21, 2018
able back to a sustainable source.
at the PFDA Conference Room, Fishport Complex, Tambler, General Santos City. The said orientaon was aended by operaon and
Control Union is one of the accredited independent cerers for MSC. “Control Union Cercaon has focused its eorts in de -
plant managers coming from Sta. Cruz Seafood Internaonal, Inc.; RDEX Food Internaonal Philippines, Inc.; Well Delight Network
veloping services around the sustainability of the industry’s supply
Corp.; Rell and Renn Seafood Sphere, Inc.; and Philippine Cinmic
social compliance and texles markets. Control Union has used its foundaon in agriculture to build its servi ces around supply chains
Industrial Corp.
chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry forestry,, biomass, bioenergy,
that require sustainable, sourcing soluons.” Seth Wang, General Manager of Control Union Singapore, pre-
sented an overview of MSC sheries and MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) standards cercaon process.
Globally, demand for responsibly- and sustainably-sourced seafood products is taking center stage. As a result, consumers and
businesses look for sh and seafood products with eco-labels cer MSC is an independent non-prot organizaon which sets the standards for sustainable and responsible sheries and shing pracces worldwide. MSC’s sheries standard for determining en -
fying that they are sourced sustainably and produced responsibly. “Fisheries Ecolabels are seals of approval given to seafood
vironmentally sustainable, well-managed sheries centers on three core principles: 1) condion of the sh stock; 2) shery’s impact
products deemed to have fewer impacts on the environment. The
on the surrounding ecosystem and its eecveness; and 3) performance of the shery ’s management system. Seafood stamped with
ves for beer management of sheries by creang consumer de -
goal of the eco-labelling programs is to create market-based incenmand for seafood products from well-managed stocks” (FAO 2001). The Mananagat Chronicle |
3
Tanzania and GenSan: Potent ial deep-sea shing partners
PRES-U launched in General Santos City
During the meeng, SFFAII presented the shing industry prole and updates to give Consul Sayore a background of the city’s shing industry. For his part, Sayore explained that Tanzania oers a vast array of opportunies as the country boasts of abundant natural and manpower resources, enjoys polical stability, and grants an arac ve tax incenve package to potenal investors and partners.
ager; Rosanna Bernadee Contreras, SFFAII Execuve Director; SF FAII Ocers; City Councilor Brix Tan, Chairperson, Commiee on Fisheries; Engr. Milagros Casis, RED-DA12; BFAR 12; DA 12; and other group representaves. To make the system work, SFFAII provided three (3) units of 51-
COURTESY CALL. Tanzania CALL. Tanzania Consul General Ebenezer Sayore (4th from left)
DFA Assistant Secretary Quintana said the proposal and invita-
inch LCD TV while PFDA-GSFPC provided computer hardware and
on generated interest from the city’s business community which likewise presented their company proles and shared their unique
system development. With this system, prices will be displayed via
experiences on Tuna canning expansion like in Papua New Guinea and
ity, and the highest and lowest prices. The system can also be used
Indonesia. They advised the Tanzania Consul to consider adopng the
for the Port’s informaon campaign since it can show video presen-
same model.
taons for announcements, advisories, and among others.
TV monitors installed at Markets 1, 2, and 3 showing species, qual-
poses with General Santos City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera (5th from left) to-
Sayore paid a courtesy visit on GenSan City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.
gether with DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Hjayceelyn Quintana (6th from left). Also in photo are Allan Marcilla of the General Santos City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Ofce (CEMCDO) (1st from left), SFFAII Executive Director Rosanna Bernadette
He also visited Philbest Canning Corporaon and the General Santos City Fish Port to witness its day-to-day operaons and its best prac ces.
RIBBON CUTTING. (From CUTTING. (From left to right) Ribbon-cutting ceremony participated by GenSan Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles, GenSan Mayor Ronnel C.
The targeted beneciaries of this monitoring system are the shermen and traders.
Rivera, Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan, SFFAII’s Rosanna Bernadette B. Contreras, and PFDA’s Jose M. Abarquez.
B. Contreras (2nd from left), SFFAII Treasurer Dexter G. Teng (3rd from left), Department Head Leonard Flores, CEMCDO (7th from left), and DFA Ofcers. Photo Credit: City Public Information Ofce, General Santos City
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority-General Santos Fishport Complex (PFDA-GSFPC), together with the SOCSK-
Tanzania Consul General Ebenezer Sayore visited General S an-
tos City on April 20-21, 2018, to explore potenal partnership with Filipino companies that will help develop the deep-sea shing in -
SARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII),
dustry of Tanzania.
at the Market Hall 1 of the General Santos Fish Port Complex.
SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) organized a meeng for Consul Sayore to discuss possible cooperaon and collaboraon with the local government unit and major shing industry players in the city. Consul Sayore was accom panied by Department of Foreign Aairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana, Nela Subang-Santos (Special Assistant to the Consul), and Sharon Primavera and Armaigne Grace C. Aquino, both from DFA.
32 fshing vessels back to port in city
launched PRICE ESTIMATE OF UNLOADING or PRES-U in March 2018
PRES-U is a price watch iniave by PFDA and SFFAII that aims to promote transparency in the marketplace. It is a daily price moni-
toring system that captures Fish Unloading transacons of Fish Port market clients at Market Trading Halls 1, 2, and 3. Meeting with Tanzania Consul. SFFAII organized a meeting for Tanzania Consul General Ebenezer Sayore to discuss possible cooperation and collaboration with the local government unit and major shing industry players in the city.
PHL joins 22nd Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting
CONTRACT SIGNING. GenSan SIGNING. GenSan Fish Port Manager Jose M. Abarquez and
Present in the inauguraon were Ay. Glen Pangapalan, General Manager, PFDA; Ay. Loralie C. Datahan, Asst. General Manag er, PFDA; GenSan City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera; GenSan Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles; Jose M. Abarquez, GenSan Fish Port Man-
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held its 22nd An-
nual Meeng in Bangkok, Thailand on May 21-25, 2018 with Vice
unl the close of the 23rd Session in 2019, to Liberia and Senegal.
Seas Pocket 1-Special Management Area (HSP1-SMA) have come
Chairperson Jung-re Riley Kim of the Republic of Korea, presiding over the meeng. A total of 232 delegates from 27 contracng par -
They added 5 vessels to the IOTC Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulat-
This follows the prohibion of seng on F ish Aggregang De vices (FADs) in the HSP1-SMA from July to September, as provided in Conservaon Management Measure (CMM) 2017-01 (Conservaon and Management Measure for bigeye, yellown, and skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacic Ocean) of the Western and Cen tral Pacic Fisheries Commission. This acon likewise complies with Fisheries Administrave Order 245-3 entled, “Regulaons and Implemenng Guidelines on Group Tuna Purse Seine Operaons in High Seas Pocket Number 1 as a Special Management Area”.
CMMs spell forth binding decisions relang to conservaon and management measures. Such decisions are sequenally num bered and include the year of adopon.
es (Members) of the Commission; 6 delegates from 2 cooperat ing non-contracng pares; 37 delegates from 14 observers to the Commission (including 9 invited experts); and 2 delegates from the Food and Agriculture Organizaon of the United Naons, parci pated in the internaonal meeng. Philippine Delegaon composed of BFAR representaves and SFFAII members was led by Assistant Director Sammy Malvas.
The said meeng addressed highly-important challenges con fronng Conservaon and Sustainable Management of stocks covered by the Organizaon’s mandate. In the same meeng, the Com mission granted the status of Cooperang Non-Contracng Party,
Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles, GenSan Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera, and Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan.
PHL joins... From page 4
All thirty-two (32) Tuna Purse Seine and Ring net commercial
shing vessels operang in the Western and Central Pacic High back to port in GenSan in the last week of J une, this year.
SFFAII Executive Director Rosanna Bernadette Contreras signing the Deed of Assignment for the PRES-U project. It was witnessed by GenSan Vice Mayor
by large-scale shing seeds; 7) Resoluon 18/07: Measures Appli cable in case of non-fullment of reporng obligaons in the IOTC;
ed (IUU) vessel List, bringing the total number of vessels listed to 74.
8) Resoluon 18/08: Procedures on Fish Aggregang Devices (FADs) Management Plan including a limitaon on the number of FADs’
The following 10 Conservaon and Management Measures were adopted by the Commission: 1) Resoluon 18/01: Interim Plan
more detailed specicaons of catch reported and the incidence of entanglement of non-target species; 9) Resoluon 18/09: Scoping
for Rebuilding the Indian Ocean Yellown Tuna stock in the IOTC area of competence; 2) Resoluon 18/02: Management measures for the
study of Socio-Economic Indicators of IOTC sheries; 10) Resoluon 18/10: Vessel chartering in the IOTC Area of Competence.
conservaon of blue shark caught in associaon with IOTC sheries; 3) Resoluon 18/03: Establishing list of vessels presumed to have car-
Implementaon and enforcement remain major issues in the
ried out Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing in the IOTC area
Indian Ocean. There is a need for more vigorous acon as lack of
of competence; 4) Resoluon 18/04: Bio-FAD experimental Project;
compliance puts at risk the overall sustainability of the Indian Ocean
5) Resoluon 18/05: Management measures for the conservaon of bill sh, striped marlin, black marlin, blue marlin, and Indo-Pacic sail-
including Tuna stock.
sh; 6) Resoluon 18/06: Establishing a program for Transshipment
Page 5
4 | The Mananagat Chronicle
The Mananagat Chronicle |
5
PH eCDTS Corner
First-Movers simulate eCDTS The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Resources-Fisheries Informaon Management Center (BFAR-FIMC), ably led by Zaldy Perez,
As part of the development life cycle, the target users from the
selected First-Mover companies took the me to test the system.
Documentaon and Traceability System (eCDTS) to further bolster
Rell and Renn Fishing Corp. and Tuna Explorers Inc., two of the shing companies that signied interest to get involved in the project,
conservaon measures and sustainable ulizaon of aquac re sources. Since its inial development in June 2017, the said docu -
undertook a series of user tests using actual, live data. Both compa nies were able to generate electronic logsheet forms and submied
mentaon system has gone through various revisions to ensure its conformity with current business operaons of target users, compli -
same via internet, to BFAR inspector for validaon. Upon validaon,
ance with naonal laws, and suitability to market demands.
Catch Origin and Landing Declaraon form, and had it validated by BFAR. Feedbacks were then collated by the developers to further
in partnership with USAID Oceans, is developing an Electronic Catch
SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc.
the said companies were able to create and submit the electronic
improve its funconality.
(SFFAII) engaged the twelve (12) First-Mover companies that agreed to pilot-test the system. The First-Mover companies are composed
Once the system is nalized, assessed, and proven to withstand
of sectors coming from handline, purse seine, canning, and fresh
major technical issues, the eCDTS will be rolled out to all First-Mov-
frozen processors, to capture the enre shing supply chain in Gen -
er companies and will run alongside their current internal systems.
SFFAII SFF AII calls for review of BAC 251 and FAO 238-1 The SOCSKSARGEN Federaon Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), in partnership with USAID Oceans and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Resources (BFAR) Region 12, held a workshop on April 16, 2018 at East Asia Royale Hotel, General Santos City aimed at reviewing the applicability of
BFAR Administrave Circular 251 on data requirements and improving the Philippine Catch Documentao Documentaon n and Traceability Scheme. This will help keep the industry globally compeve by complying with dierent market demands and standards. BFAR Administrave Circular no. 251 series of 2014, oth erwise known as the “Traceability ty System for Fish and Fishery Products”, establishes the traceability system for wild-caught and farmed sh and other aquac products for export. Fiy-seven (57) Tuna Industry stakeholders stakeholders aended the
eral Santos.
Practical Navigation Training undertaken The SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Indus tries, Inc. (SFFAII), in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Resources (BFAR), organized a three-day Praccal Navigaon Training at Hotel Dolores, General Santos City in April, this year. The training capacitated shing vessel captains captains
operaons and the dierent Regional Fisheries Management Organizaons’ conservaon measures for commercial shing operaons.
and crew and enhanced their skills and knowledge on policies
gram – the program responsible for the training’s implementa-
concerning shing operaons, safe navigaon at sea - focusing on chart works, plong, and sh catch documentaon (lling
on, including the necessary administrave support to deploy observers to collect scienc data and other informaon, as provided in Secon 2 of FAO-240. He also talked about the du es and responsibilies of Fisheries Observers, their mandate, and sancons. Meanwhile, Maria Joy Mabanglo presented BFAR’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) operaons. She talked about how VMS works, Entry and Exit Nocaon, An-Tam -
up of log sheets). Alma Dickson, Fishing Technology and Management Con-
sultant of BFAR, discussed the relevant naonal policies and Fisheries Administrave Orders (FAOs) on commercial shing
that comes with the system. Isidro Tanangonan on the other
hand, delved on bycatch policies and rules to help shing ves sel captains and crew increase their awareness on populaon decline of certain species, and help them learn how to handle
bycatch, specically sharks. Eugene Casas, Senior Fishing Regulaons Ocer of BFAR 12, explored the importance of sh catch documentaon. He explained that log sheets are to be lled up by the shing ves sel captains to document their shing acvity at sea. He also walked them through all the elds in the log sheet and taught them how to supply the necessary data.
RETRAINING. It is essential for professionals and workers to undertake refresher training courses and activities to revisit their skills, enhance, and sharpen through the inputs of industry experts.
6 | The Mananagat Chronicle
To complete the said training, Capt. Bernabe Gonzales took the me to educate the captains and crew about safe naviga on by giving them praccal exercises on how to plot their cur rent locaon on the map with the given latude and longitude.
ies and Aquaculture Summit in November 2017 and Handline
Summit in December 2017, respecvely, the industry called for the review and amendment of BAC 251 based on the applicability on all types of sheries. Workshop Worksho p parcipants came from General Tuna Canning Corp., Seatrade Canning Corp., Ocean Canning Corp., Celebes Canning Corp., Alliance Food Select Internaonal, PhilBest Canning Corp., Rell and Renn Seafood Sphere, Inc., Mommy Gina
Tuna Resources, Sta. Cruz Seafood Internaonal, Inc., RDEX, Tenpoint Manufacturing Corp. and Well Delight, Immanuel Tuna Traders, Jebo Fishing, Rell and Renn Fishing Corp., Marchael SeaVenture Corp., Tuna Explorers, Inc., Sto. Niño Aqua Fishing Venture Corp., CHL Fishing, NH Agro Industrial Corp.,
Marlo Demo-os presented BFAR’s Fisheries Observer Pro -
pering feature, and how to troubleshoot the electronic logbook
Fresh Frozen Processors group discusses BAC 251 data requirements.
and RJ Fishing. Tuna industry stakeholders attend workshop to review BAC 251 and FAO 238-1.
workshop represenng fresh frozen processors, Tuna canneries, and purse seine and handline operators in the region.
On exporng to European Union (EU) countries, the Phil ippines implemented the Fisheries Administrave Order 2381, a Catch Cercaon Scheme requiring all shery products exported to the EU to be accompanied with a Catch Cercate duly validated and approved by BFAR, ensuring full traceability in all stages, from net to plate, and the availability of relevant trail of documentary evidence.
Currently, an Electronic Catch Documentaon and TraceCurrently, ability System or eCDTS is being developed by BFAR to ensure full traceability, real me monitoring, catch validaon, and the prevenon of entry of sh and shery products derived from Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) shing into the supply chain. In the recently-concluded State of the Philippine Fisher-
USAID Oceans holds learning exchange workshop in GenSan USAID Oceans held a learning exchange workshop to
pave the way for the implementaon of the Electronic Catch Documentaon and Traceability System (eCDTS) in the Philip pines on May 8-11, 2018 at Microtel in General Santos City. The workshop aimed at helping the Indonesian delegates understand the development of the Philippines’ eCDTS, the role
of government and the sheries stakeholders, and how they can all work together to secure the conservaon of marine resources. Present in the learning workshop were USAID Regional Development Mission of Asia, USAID Indonesia, MDPI Indo-
nesia, Ministry of Marime Aairs and Fisheries-Indonesia, USAID Philippines, SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc., Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Re sources-Region 12, Futurisc Aviaon and Marime Enterprise, Inc., and several sheries stakeholders in the city. Page 8
The Mananagat Chronicle |
7
PH eCDTS Corner
ASEAN Tuna Eco-Labelling consultative-workshop held
PHL delegates in IND for learning exchange An exchange program called “CDT Learning Exchanges”, was organized by USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership in collabora-
Aiming to enhance the compeveness of ASEAN Tuna glob ally and branding it as a suitable and traceable-produced traceable-produced prod-
on with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and
uct, the Ministry of Marine Aairs and Fisheries of the Republic
the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Aairs and Fisheries (MMAF) at the USAID Learning Site in Manado-Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indone-
of Indonesia, in partnership with USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development
sia in June, this year. ASEAN member-states and industry representaves including the SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied
Center, implemented a Consultave-Workshop on ASEAN Tuna Ecolabelling ng (ATEL) on June 25, 2018 in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Representaves of all ASEAN member-states were in vited to parcipate, provide inputs, and raise inquiries regarding the labelling scheme. SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) representaves led by Execuve Director Rosanna Bernadee Contreras were invited and parci -
Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) were invited to benet from the learning exchanges among countries implemenng eCDTS. Parcipants visited Indonesia’s sh landing port at Bitung as part of their learning exchange acvies. They witnessed various presentaons and demonstraons of catch documentaon systems
pated as resource persons.
developed by Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI) and
MMAF. This exposure further enhanced their understanding of In-
During the workshop, it was emphasized that ATEL cer caon should be aordable, yielding benets not only for stake holders, but also for marine ecosystems. Workshop parcipants agreed on the importance of implemenng ATEL in the ASEAN region to support sustainable management of Tuna sheries.
donesia’s seafood supply chain and how the systems were built and
Given this, they have endorsed ATEL to ministers in charge of ag-
Pointrek demo. Sang demo. Sang Udaraya, National ICT Specialist-Indonesia, conducts a demonstration on Pointrek at PT Samudra Mandiri Sentosa in Bitung, Indonesia.
designed to integrate with their current business operaons. The parcipants also visited one of Indonesia’s First-Mover companies, PT Samudra Mandiri Sentosa. The shing company is among the rsts to implement Indonesia’s traceability system for data collecon at sea, Pointrek. Moreover, SFFAII representaves also had the chance to visit MDPI’s port sampling site for the Traz demo. They later went to PT
ASEAN Mechanism, which involves Tuna mul-stakeholders such as: government, producer, associaon, NGOs, and regional orga nizaons; 3) Develop work plan and collaboraon with Partners and Donors to ensure that ATEL is acceptable by local, regional,
and internaonal markets and to secure funding for long-term operaon; 4) Ensure the ATEL implementaon is synergized with current traceability iniaves in the region, as well as harmonize with exisng regional cooperaon, standards, and guidelines; 5) Develop Road Map to ensure that ATEL preparaon and imple mentaon will be eecve and adaptable based on the need of ASEAN member-st member-states. ates. Tuna is considered as one of the most commercially-viable
shes in the market. Because of its high demand, Tuna stocks are being overshed. This problem should be given serious at tenon and a sustainable sheries management management should be fully implemented. This condion is also recognized by Tuna-produc ing countries, especially the ASEAN member-states. To counter these alarming incidents, the development of
riculture, sheries, and marine aairs, to be carried and tackled during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeng on Agriculture and Forest -
ATEL has been instuted to meet the requirements relang to environmental protecon. This labelling scheme guarantees
ry in September 2018.
that Tuna resources are harvested responsibly while at the same
The workshop further suggested that aer the endorse ment of the ATEL Policy Paper, further work should consider
the following: 1) Implementaon of ATEL should create regional branding and benet ASEAN as Tuna producing Countries, im proving business; 2) Develop Terms of Reference (TOR) under
me, comply with market demands. This tool also aims to create an improved standardizaon of products originang from ASE AN countries, righully assuring that said products obtain high ly-compeve values in the market. This is achieved by providing consumers with informed choices on the seafood products they purchase.
Blue Ocean Grace Internaonal, a fresh frozen processor company
3rd TWG workshop held in Bangkok Bangkok
that integrates TraceTales, an integral part of their business process. IND and PHL delegates. MDPI-Indonesia and SFFAII-General Santos City, Philippines representatives participated in the Port sampling and Traz demo at Manado, Indonesia.
The Philippine delegaon was composed of Beverly San Juan, BFAR, Shalimar Abdurahman, SFFAII, and Eric Sison, SFFAII.
USAID Oceans... From page 7 On the workshop’s second day, Indonesian delegates were in-
Interesngly,, Indonesia is one of the largest Tuna suppliers in the Interesngly
vited to the General Santos Fish Port to observe and get acquainted
world. Its shing industry is a vital component of its overall economy.
with the shing operaons of the city. A demonstraon of the Phil -
However, being a major supplier of sheries products also imposes
ippines’ eCDTS was also conducted in two (2) of the city’s First-Mov-
accompanying threats on marine conservaon, as they are prone to
er companies: Tuna Explorers, Inc. and Rell and Renn Fishing Corp.
unsustainable shing pracces.
USAID Oceans promotes the preservaon of sheries stocks
To address such issue, USAID Oceans partnered with Masyarakat
eries agendum.
The USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership is a ve-year program aimed at strengthening regional cooperaon to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) shing, promote sustainable sheries, and conserve marine biodiversity in the Asia-Pacic region through the development of an electronic Catch Documentaon
The TWG workshop sessions acquired inputs and guidance
from members parcularly on the development of regional guide lines for ASEAN-wide adopon and implementaon of the electron ic Catch Documentaon and Traceability Systems (eCDTS) which support sustainable sheries management, human welfare, and
sire to successfully implement the program.
and Traceability System. USAID Oceans closely works with industry
partners in the design, implementaon, tesng, replicaon, and scaling phases to ensure that the soluons align with industry bot -
responsible and sustainable shing pracces, to develop a catch doc-
updates from project partners on unique experiences and lessons
tom lines.
umentaon and traceability system that covers the enre seafood
learned.
dan Perikanan Indonesia, an independent foundaon that supports
umentaon and Traceability System (CDTS) which provides a co herent and eecve process of documenng integral informaon about the seafood supply chain - from point of catch to export, as
supply chain in Indonesia - from point of catch (Pointrek), to middle-
well as, facilitate backward traceability - from export, back to the
men (Traz), to the processors (TraceTales).
8 | The Mananagat Chronicle
and lessons learned during the development and tesng of the Phil ippine eCDTS. The presentaon highlighted the full and strong en gagement of both the government (Bureau of F isheries and Aquac Resources) and the industry to the eCDTS project. Both partners de -
leverage public-private partnership. The sharing sessions generated
across Southeast Asia. It supports the development of Catch Doc-
point of catch.
Members, partner organizaons, and US government rep resentaves of USAID Oceans Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) convened for the third me in Bangkok, Thailand in July, this year, to accomplish USAID Oceans’ objecves, obtain inputs from parcipants on regional priories, and reect on how USAID Oceans’ legacy can be integrated into each country’s naonal sh -
In October 2017, USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership part-
Shalimar Abdurahman, Project Ocer of SOCSKSARGEN Fed eraon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), presented the General Santos-Philippine Learning Site’s acvies, experiences,
nered with SFFAII to pilot the development and implementaon of an eCDTS in General Santos City.
The Mananagat Chronicle |
9
US AID Oceans Corner USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership Since 2017, SFFAII has been working with the USAID Oceans
Philippine Team joins 14th WCPFC Science Committee Meeting in Busan
SFFAII launches 1st... From page 1
through an extended cellular network created by FAME “gateways” installed in municipal landing sites and custom-designed
and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans) as a program grantee
messaging and locaon tracking apps. The technology will allow
supporng the development and implementaon of an elec tronic catch documentaon and traceability system (eCDTS) in
the small-scale shers to more easily meet market and reporng requirements, as well as be equipped with increased connecvity
the program’s General Santos City learning site. Working closely
and safety at sea.
with the Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Resources (BFAR), the partners have made great progress in bringing sh -
Harnessing Technology for more Sustainable Fisheries,
eries traceability online on the Philippines—both with small- and
Improved Livelihoods
large-scale industry partners.
USAID Oceans’ traceability iniaves are closely linked with enhanced sustainable sheries management and planning. In
Support of the BFAR eCDTS
2017, USAID Oceans developed a site-based Sustainable Fisher-
In 2017, BFAR completed development of the eCDTS, a sys -
ies Management Plan which it is currently working to have ad-
Delegates attending the 14th WCPFC Science Committee meeting on August
tem designed to bridge small, medium, and large-scale sheries data capture tools and to integrate exisng naonal databas -
opted for implementaon. USAID Oceans and BFAR are currently
8-16, 2018 in Busan, South Korea.
es. The BFAR eCDTS enables supply chain actors to enter data
learning site plan and the Naonal Tuna Management Plan.
working together to explore the linkages between the program’s
through web and mobile-based database modules, which are
now undergoing live, in-port tesng.
To further enhance sheries management planning, in July, USAID Oceans announced a new grant opportunity to partners
BFAR and USAID Oceans kicked o live eCDTS data tesng the week of May 23, 2018, with select purse seine and hand-
line shers, fresh frozen processors, and canning companies in General Santos City. Live data tesng is planned to be the nal step before the eCDTS is extended to USAID Oceans’ First Mover
to support operaonalizaon of eCDTS-collected data to inform sheries management. The Request for Applicaons is expected to launch in September 2018. This announcement comes on the heels of USAID Oceans’
partners for everyday use. Currently, 13 companies from the tuna
July grant award to the Naonal Network on Women in Fisheries
industry in General Santos City have signed on as “First Movers”
(WinFish) to implement gender equity intervenons in the Gen -
to pilot the technology.
eral Santos City learning site. Through the grant, USAID Oceans
will connue to work with naonal and local partners to encour As system tesng and opmizaon connues, BFAR has also begun development of a mobile applicaon for at-sea data cap -
age the collecon of a recommended set of human welfare key
ture—a signicant step in achieving full-chain traceability, from
supply chains, including through the involvement of women in
point of catch to export.
eCDTS design and data collecon.
data elements through the eCDTS and support gender equitable
USAID Oceans has also launched a partnership with the Fu-
turisc Aviaon and Marime Enterprise (FAME) to test smallscale vessel monitoring devices and transponders that enable
The success stories of many Mananagat (shermen) who reaped and connue to reap, the riches of our God-given seas,
ing held on August 8-16, 2018 in Busan, South Korea. The Philippine delegaon was led by Rafael Ramiscal of the Bureau of Fisheries and
serve as an inspiraon to those who dream and strive for a beer life. Their contribuons are notable and their vision as leaders have
Aquac Resources. SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. Execuve Director Rosanna Bernadee Contreras
impacted so many lives in the city, the region, and the country in general.
was also part of the delegaon. Indeed, shing has become a culture all its own in General San The SC is one of four (4) subsidiary bodies that supports the work of the WCPFC. It meets in advance in preparaon for the an -
tos City, a city embedded in the shing industry. The challenge then
nual meeng which is regularly set every December. The SC ensures that the Commission has the best available scienc informaon
will be preserved, increased, and not diminished in me. “Tuna: At the Heart of General Santos”, a coee table book published by SF -
on the most appropriate conservaon and management measures. Moreover,, it ulizes the services of expert sheries sciensts during Moreover
FAII ngly documents these stories while capturing in photos the
its scheduled meengs. It also coordinates with the Technical and Compliance Commiee on certain technical and administrave
geoning from the Tuna Industry. We hope that with this coee table
maers to ensure that consistent advice is provided to the WCPFC.
unit of General Santos and the academia will follow by publishing
is how to capture all these unique stories to ensure that their value
colorful goings-on in the Fish Port and the related industries bourbook we have started the momentum and the local government
In 2017, it was reported that provisional Tuna catch in the West-
terials for use of our K12 and college students. For aer all, “A peo-
ern and Central Pacic Ocean (WCPO) reached a total of 2,539,950
ple without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is
metric tons, signicantly posng a decrease, making it the lowest catch in the last six (6) years. WCPO Tuna catch represents 54%
like a tree without roots”, says Marcus Garvey.
of global Tuna catch. Although 2017 purse seine catch is relavely the same as 2016 gures with pole and line and other sheries
shers to capture traceability data at-sea. The technology ac knowledges the dierences between small and large-scale sher ies, oering technology soluons and tools to enable operaons of all sizes to easily implement traceability. In addion to data
About USAID Oceans
capture, the small-scale technology also provides at-sea commu-
USAID Oceans is a ve-year, regional United States Agency for Internaonal Development-funded project that works in collaboraon with the Southeast Asia Fish-
Through the partnership, USAID Oceans and FAME will in-
eries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and through the
stall an inial 30 transponders on small-scale First Mover vessels
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquac Resources (BFAR) in the
in six municipalies surrounding General Santos City this August. Through the pilot, shers will be able to capture key traceability
Philippines. To learn more, visit www.seafdec-oceans-
data directly from the point of catch and communicate to shore
The Philippines sent a delegaon to the Western and Central Pacic Ocean Commission (WCPFC) Science Commiee (SC) meet -
suitable academic books that will form part of the educaonal ma-
Inclusion of Small-Scale Fisheries
nicaon and safety features for sherfolk.
Drone shot of Market 1, General Santos City Fish Port.
partnership.org.
reporng a decrease in catch at 7% and 13% respecvely, long line shery posted a 9% increase. Skipjack comprising 64% of the catch
We hope you will enjoy reading the coee table book as much as we enjoyed doing it! “Tuna: At the Heart of General Santos” is available at a re-
dropped, the lowest since 2011. Yellown Tuna is at record high at 26%. Bigeye Tuna is down at 5%. Albacore at 5% is close to its 10-
tail price of Php 1,250.00 per copy and a wholesale price of Php
year average.
stall will display the coee table books at SM City General Santos, venue of the 20th Naonal Tuna Congress. You may also contact
While there is a reported decrease in Tuna catch volume, the
value of Tuna is esmated to increase by 12% at US$5.84 billion
1,000.00 each for a bulk purchase of at least ten (10) copies. A book
SFFAII at Tel. Nos. 0835529736 and 0838261042 and look for MJ Sapalo-Villegas.
in 2017. This is largely aributed to the 24% increase in the price of skipjack and yellown Tuna derived from purse seine shery in 2017.
10 | The Mananagat Chronicle
The Mananagat Chronicle |
11
Int’l. conference pushes traceable and sustainable global Tuna market
TUNA 2018 BANGKOK. Delegates BANGKOK. Delegates attending the 15th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition held on May 28-30, 2018 at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Exhibion held on May 28-30, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand,
The event featured an exhibion which gave the parci pang companies and organizaons the opportunity to show-
gathered more than six hundred (600) major Tuna industry players and stakeholders all over the world. The said event
case their products, equipment, machineries, and services related to the industry.
The 15TH INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and
took a closer look at the latest developments aecng the global and regional Tuna industries. It also discussed the
present challenges and opportunies on creang a socially,
SOCSKSARGEN Federaon of Fishing and Allied Indus tries, Inc. parcipated in the said conference.
economically, and environmentally-sustainable global Tuna market.
“Braving Challenges: Towards a Traceable and Sustain able Tuna Industry” is this year’s conference theme. The said conference covered covered topics on sustainability sustainability,, eco labelling and
environmental issues, markets and markeng, products and quality developments, new technology and trend, and food
safety. Moreover, deliberaons in the conference revolved around the key concepts of sustainability both above and
below the water level, innovaon in markets, products and harvesng, and development of partnerships in the next ve (5) to ten (10) years. Concepts on social responsibility, human
rights, and gender sensivity and equity in the Tuna sheries were also highlighted during the discussions.
12 | The Mananagat Chronicle
About INFOFISH
INFOFISH is the leading source of markeng support for sh producers and exporters. Since 1987, it is an Inter governmental Organizaon providing markeng informa on and technical advisory services to the shery industry of the Asia- Pacic region. INFOFISH is the l eading source of markeng support for sh producers and exporters in the Asia-Pacic by organizing exhibions, conferences, work shops, seminars, and training programs. (INFOFISH.ORG) (INFOFISH.ORG)
