Villafuerte said the Philippines now ranks as the world’s fourth biggest tuna producer. In Asia, he said the country is second to Taiwan in terms of tuna output.
Citing figures from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Villafuerte said the Philippines produced last year an estimated 500,000 tons of tuna—more than 10 percent of the world’s total yield of four million tons.
“On the demand side, we have to vigorously defend existing Philippine tuna markets abroad, apart from pushing open new outlets in North America, the European Union and Japan,” Villafuerte pointed out.
“As to the supply side, we have to negotiate new bilateral fishing accords with Malaysia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati and other neighbors, in order to allow Filipino tuna catchers greater access to some of the world’s most fertile trawling grounds,” he said.
Source: Sun Star
RP bats for top rank in tuna production
PHILIPPINES - The Philippines will likely emerge as the worlds number one tuna producer once the government fully carries out a new law spurring handline fishing, forges new bilateral fishing pacts and secures greater foreign market access for the high-value produce, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, chairman of the House committee on fisheries and aquaculture, said.