Tuna industry unaffected by conflict in Mindanao

Despite the continuing conflict in Mindanao, the local tuna industry continues to flourish in the region, the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reported.

But the bad news is, this development has been overshadowed by the series and the mounting violence in the so-called conflict areas in the region, USAID’s GEM Program liaison officer Nikki Meru said.

Aside from tuna, Meru noted a significant expansion of acquaculture production in the country.

At the 10th National Tuna Congress held in General Santos City recently, Meru noted that aquaculture experts encouraged tuna industry players to diversify into aquaculture as a way of adapting to the decline in global tuna catches amid high fuel costs and increasing international competition.

“Aquaculture production in the country has significantly expanded over the years, with the industry now valued at $750 million,” said Ramon Macaraig, president of the Chamber of Aquaculture and Ancillary Industries in Sarangani.

With the stricter enforcement of tuna management conservation measures resulting in lower catch levels worldwide, increasing domestic aquaculture production can fill in the current supply gap in local and foreign markets and ensure the country’s food security.

“Aquaculture production in Mindanao offers opportunities for growth, with a variety of species available,” Macaraig said, adding that diversification into aquaculture can supplement the incomes of those who at present depend exclusively on the tuna catch.

While it is not yet economically feasible to farm yellowfin tuna and other commercial tuna species, there are high-value marine species with good potential in both domestic and Asia-Pacific markets, including grouper, pampano, mangrove snapper and Asian sea bass.

Macaraeg said China is still the main export market for high-value seafood such as live grouper, snapper, abalone and sea cucumber.

Frozen tilapia, catfish and pampano are selling well in the U.S., while Japan is a major market for shrimps and crustaceans.

The sustainability of aqua­­culture operations depends on the feeding systems used, the acceptability of products in local and foreign markets, and choice of location for operations, Macaraig said.

Gil Adora, assistant director of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), said that the investment potential of aquaculture has led to the development of “mariculture parks” in the Philippines.

These promote the expansion of fish production and help provide a livelihood for fishermen that can accelerate socio-economic growth in underdeveloped areas,” Adora said.