The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) sustains the region-wide Tuna-tagging project in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean notwithstanding the pandemic. The research focuses on better analysis and estimation of Tuna stocks and understanding of the interactions between Tuna species and major fishing gears supporting the development of mitigation measures.
Noting that the General Santos Fish Port Complex is one of the major Tuna unloading ports in the country, SPC identified the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) as an effective partner to collect tags, gather high quality information, and provide rewards to finders for tag recoveries in General Santos and neighboring areas.
SFFAII, widely promoting the project, sought the support and participation of fishing companies, canneries, and even government bodies to further increase the rate of tag recovery.
In a
recent disembarkation in April 2020, representatives of the Fisheries Observers
of the Philippines who were on-board five (5) commercial catcher vessels reported
finding eighteen (18) yellow tags during the fishing activity. Each of the tag
was equivalent to Php 520.00. Each tag contains a complete set of information encompassing
growth and migration patterns of Tunas in the Pacific.
Fishing
crew of fishing vessels belonging to Sto. Niño Aqua Fishing Venture Corp. and
Rugela Fishing Industries, Inc. also reported finding two (2) white tags. The
use of white tags is in accord with the new research method of SPC that
determines the age of Tuna through injecting strontium chloride on the fish’s
otoliths.
The active participation of the observers and fishing crew on board was significant to help promote the project, encourage tag finders to report recovered tags, note the important information including details such as when the tag was found, fish catch information, and the catcher and carrier vessel names.
Finders can easily contact the nearest SPC Tuna-Tagging Project Tag Recovery Officer to turn-over tags and get their rewards. Tag rewards range from as low as Php 520.00 to as high as Php 13,000.00 per tag.
Presently, a total of 272 have been turned over to SFFAII since the start of the project in late November of 2019.
If you find a fish with tag, you may contact 0928-447-4713 or 0939-001-3672, or visit us at SFFAII at Mezzanine Floor, Market 3 Bldg., General Santos Fish Port Complex, Barangay Tambler, General Santos City.
