High cost of shipping hampers fishing sector in CV

The high cost of shipping is preventing the fisheries sector in the Visayas from developing their market.

Around 50 stakeholders of the Visayas sector from Regions VI, VII and VIII attended the recently-held Area Wide Consultation on Food discussing the different concerns of the food sectors, fishing; rice, corn and feed products, agriculture and livestock.

During the consultation for the fishing sector initiated by Anthony Buyco, president of the Iloilo Fish Producers Association, the high cost of shipping is topping the concern in market development.

According to the compiled report there are not enough vessels that have the capacity to bring the fishes to country destinations such as Japan, United States, Korea, China and Singapore.

The group also strongly calls for the repeal of the Cabotage Law allowing international vessels to load and unload in different ports, not only international that would lower shipping charges.

The repeal, however, is not a priority bill for now constrained the move to succeed.

The law prohibits international cargo vessels to dock in local ports causing the shippers, particularly the exporters, to incur additional shipping cost since they still have to send their produce to Manila or Cebu before they reach their foreign destinations.

This law has always been said as the major bottleneck of the local shipping industry.

The Maritime Industry Authority believes that local shipping companies in the country are not big enough to shoulder all the needed costs in terms of transporting goods to foreign markets.

Another concern under market development raised was the downward price fluctuation of bangus and other marine products due to the influence of traders.

The interventions mentioned were the strengthening of the fisher folk organizations, producers and cooperatives as well as the establishment of post harvest and cold storage facilities of international standards including “Bagsakan Centers”.

However, these interventions were constrained due to the lack of awareness of the benefits derived from cooperativism.

Also the producers were unable to meet the supply and price requirements of the export market such as those of the scallops, octopus and tilapia. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP