MANILA (September 5) — The Philippine tuna industry should prepare for increasing pressures from climate change, labor problems, and international sustainability regulations, even if output and exports increased by double digits last year.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated on Wednesday at the 25th National Tuna Congress that the industry’s impressive 2024 performance shouldn’t cause complacency.
According to Tiu Laurel, “Our tuna carries the Filipino brand of quality and integrity”.
“But like the oceans we rely on, the industry now faces turbulent waters: climate change, global sustainability mandates, labor issues and the persistent threat of (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing,” according to him.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), tuna output increased by 20.56 percent to 494,047 metric tons (MT), up from 409,797 MT the previous year.
Exports increased by 31 percent to $514.47 million, owing to greater demand from established markets in the United States and the European Union.
Tiu Laurel said that rising temperatures and shifting migration patterns pose a threat to tuna species, while importing countries are increasingly requiring stronger environmental certificates.
He also emphasized labor issues, highlighting worldwide scrutiny over working conditions aboard fishing vessels.
If vessels are not addressed, they may have an impact on market access.
“For 25 years, this congress has been the heartbeat of collaboration in the tuna sector,” says Tiu Laurel.
“But as we look ahead, the mission is clear: we either act together, or risk drifting apart,” he said.
He urged tuna growers, processors, and regulators to improve coordination, implement science-based stock management, and invest in traceability technologies.
He also emphasized the necessity of giving fishermen, who he defined as “not just workers; they are protectors of our marine future,” more help.
He continued by saying that although the government is still dedicated to helping the sector, stakeholders have a larger burden of adapting to changing international norms.Known as the “tuna capital of the Philippines,” General Santos City is home to six of the nation’s seven tuna canneries and supports thousands of jobs in the fishing, processing, and logistics sectors.
However, the nation is under increasing pressure to increase efficiency and adhere to stricter environmental requirements as a result of fiercer competition from neighbors like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
