January 15, 2018
The SOCSKSARGEN Federation of
Fishing and Allied Industries, Incorporated (SFFAII), led the first Focus Group
Discussion on Fisheries with government stakeholders held last January 15, 2018
at the Vice Mayor’s conference room, Sangguniang Panlungsod Building. It was
participated by representatives from the Local Government of General Santos’ Office
of the City Agriculture, led by Ms. Merlinda Donasco, Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Region 12 led by Director Usop Pendaliday, Sangguniang Panlunsod,
and USAID Oceans Team.
The meeting started with
discussion of the status of SOCSKSARGEN
region and its contribution in terms of value and volume to national production. In 2016,
Socsksargen commercial fisheries ranked first in terms of volume at
242,020 metric tons and value at Php 18 Billion, contributing at an estimate
of 24% and 31% respectively. In terms of livelihood generation in the
region, purse seine and ring net operations had
generated about 65,250 and 71,200 for the Handline in Region 12.
The current challenges in the
fishing industry were discussed to include the newly implemented Seafood Import
Monitoring Program for the United States, keeping the Philippines' green card status and GSP+ qualification
with the European Union, and other issues related to teh rising interest for responsible
sourcing by International buyers. The concerned offices of the Gensan LGU
committed to take necessary actions to help address some of the issues.
The BFAR in response had started
developing an Integrated Fisheries Management System that would serve as a
repository of necessary data in the fishing operation. Components of which
included the Vessel Monitoring System, Fishing Vessel e-Licensing System,
Municipal Fisherfolk Registry System, Import-Export System, Municipal Boat
Registry System, Fishery Law Enforcement Management Information System and Electronic
Catch Documentation and Traceability System.
In partnership with USAID Oceans,
SFFAII collaborated with BFAR on the pilot-testing of the eCDT System intended to combat
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud, promote
sustainable fisheries, and conserve marine biodiversity.
The results of Philippine’s
participation in the 14th Regular Session of the Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries Commission held last December 2017 Philippines paving the way
for continued operation of 36 Philippine fleets in the Western and Central
Pacific Ocean – High Seas Pocket 1.
