Tuna fishermen incur P200M loss
Pirates, bad weather blamed
By Aquiles Zonio, Germelina Lacorte
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 16:02:00 11/28/2008
Filed Under: Fishing Industry, Fishing, Economy and Business and Finance, Economic Indicators, Weather, Crime
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines -- Tuna handline fishermen incurred losses of around P200 million during the past two months because of pirates and bad weather condition at sea, an industry official said Friday.
Roger Lim, president of the Alliance of Tuna Handliners in the Socsksargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City) area said they thought they could already recover from losses when fuel prices recently started to go down.
"The tuna industry was about to bounce back when another whammy hit us hard. Our boats cannot sail out to sea due to bad weather condition," Lim said.
For weeks now, rains have been affecting most part of Mindanao.
Lim said since September, each tuna handline boat lost an average of P200,000 in income per month because sailing out to sea became too risky.
There are about 500 tuna handline vessels from the Socsksargen area.
"Tuna handline vessels operating in international waters were 100 percent paralyzed since the month of September, and those operating in our territorial waters are very careful because of the presence of sea pirates. This is one ticklish issue that we're trying to address with the help of various government agencies," Lim said.
He said that there was no remedy for the bad weather but the issue of piracy could be addressed.
Lim said fishing grounds near the provinces of Jolo, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Sarangani, Davao Del Sur and Davao Oriental teem with tuna but fishing operations in these areas are often disrupted by sea pirates.
He said among the remedies they considered against piracy was to ask government to allow them to carry firearms.
"Big tuna are still abundant in our own fishing grounds. There's no need to go to international fishing grounds if only our territorial waters are safeguarded against sea marauders," Lim said.
In Davao City, an official of Vitarich Corp. urged fishermen to consider growing the Mekong catfish, which has become so popular abroad that it is now a $750-million business.
"It can be a lucrative option for tilapia and bangus farmers in Mindanao," Eduardo Lazo, Vitarich business development manager, said.
Currently, only Marilao in Bulacan and Pampanga grow the Mekong fish in the Philippines.
"Right now, we're still importing it and among the biggest importers are high-end restaurants in Mindanao," Lazo said.
Dorecita Delima, assistant director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Southern Mindanao, said exporters should venture into the production of the Mekong catfish, also known as Pangasius hypothalamus and Pangasius pangasidae, because of its high export potential.
Based on data presented by Vitarich, exports of Mekong catfish in 2006 reached as high as $750 million, mainly to Russia, Poland, the whole of Europe, the US and Australia.
"It's a fast growing fish that can be harvested in only six months and can easily be grown even in murky waters," Delima said.
Except for its body, which is flat like saltwater fish, the Mekong catfish is bigger than the local "hito" that grows abundantly in Mindanao, and can grow to as much as 90 to 100 cubic meters long.
Delima said local fish exporters, especially those in General Santos and Sarangani, can maximize their farm area to raise this kind of fish.
"Other Asian suppliers have spotty track record and poor image in the US," Lazo said in trying to convince local fisherman to grow the fish.
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