Phl remains optimistic of access to high seas fishing ground

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines remains optimistic that  the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) may  extend fishing access for the Philippines in Pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean because of the country’s fish conservation efforts, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

“Our petition is ongoing and we seem to be in a good position because the government is serious in implementing laws and conservation efforts,” said Alcala.

He noted that the government is sending a positive signal to the international body as a result of  the implementation of the fishing ban in the Visayas Seas and the reimposition of a fishing ban in the Zamboanga Peninsula to increase the spawning areas of sardines and herring (tamban).

Alcala earlier said that the fishing ban in the Zamboanga Peninsula would be implemented from Dec. 1, 2012 to Feb. 28, 2013. The closed season in the Visayan Seas, on the other hand, would be implemented from Nov. 15, 2012 to Feb. 14, 2013.

“This is a very positive action. We are trying our best,” said Alcala.

The Philippines is seeking an extension of fishing access in the high seas amid calls by Pacific countries to impose tighter tuna conservation measures in the high seas including controls on fish aggregating devices and closure of pockets where there is overfishing. 

In his address during the opening session of the 9th Session of the WCPFC in Manila, Alcala argued that by extending the country’s fishing access in the high seas, overfishing of juvenile tuna population within the Philippine exclusive economic zone would be prevented. 

Alcala assured  that the country could  ensure that  fishing vessels operating in high seas Pocket 1 would comply with the guidelines set by the commission.

The Philippines was granted a special four-month access to high seas Pocket 1  from Oct. 2012 to Feb. 2013 on the condition that it would implement conservation measures established by the WCPFC.

The WCPFC banned tuna fishing in certain pockets of the Pacific Ocean to protect the population of the yellow fin and big-eye tuna. The ban was enforced from Jan. 1, 2010, and expired on Dec. 31, 2011.

During the closure of the high seas, Filipino fishermen resorted to catching juvenile tuna within Philippine waters. 

Of the 36 catcher vessels  allowed to operate in the high seas pocket, only 11 have been sent by the Philippine government to the high seas because the remaining vessels still have to comply with the requirements set by the WCPFC.

The high seas catch is expected to boost the country’s fish production which contracted in the first nine months of the year. 

The fisheries subsector, which accounted for 19.37 percent of the total agricultural production, suffered a 2.57 percent contraction during the first nine months of the year because of the sardine fishing ban implemented in the Zamboanga Peninsula from  Dec. 1, 2011 to Feb. 28, 2012, and the closure of the high seas.