Philippines importing fish to prepare for closed fishing season

MANILA, Philippines — The government has authorized the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of fish to ensure sufficient supply during the closed fishing season.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Department Circular No. 12 covering the importation of various fish and fishery/aquatic products for direct consumption.

“The reason behind this is the implementation of a closed fishing season and as a proactive measure to ensure fish supply during calamities,” Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources spokesperson Nazario Briguera said in a message on Tuesday.

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Briguera said fish imports were intended for wet markets and restaurants.

The government agency will begin the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance on Aug. 1.  Eligible importers have 45 days from the issuance of clearance to ship out their fish supply, which should be stored in licensed cold storage warehouse facilities.

The closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula runs from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 each year, and Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 in Northern Palawan.

Allotment

The circular said about 10,000 MT from the allocated volume would be reserved for Kadiwa stores distribution. The remainder will be distributed at a ratio of 80 percent for importers in the commercial sector and 20 percent for associations or cooperatives.

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For those in the commercial sector, 70 percent of the import volume will be earmarked for all qualified importers, while 30 percent will be raffled off as a performance-based incentive.

In the case of associations or cooperatives, 70 percent will be distributed to all qualified importers and the remaining 30 percent will be given away as an incentive.

This round is open to all previously accredited importers, licensed importers during the closed fishing season, as well as licensed importers under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

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What can be imported

Eligible participants may import crab, lobsters, prawn, shrimp, clams, mussel, octopus, oyster, scallops, sea urchin and squid.

Alaskan pollock, anchovies, amberjack, barramundi, bigeye, capelin, cobia, cod, channel rockfish, croaker, dolphin fish, eel, emperor, flounder, fusilier, goldbanded, gourami, grouper and gunard are also included.

Furthermore, importers may source haddock, hairtail, hake, halibut, hoki, largesnout goby, mackerel, marlin, moonfish, mullet, nile perch, oil fish, orange roughy, pangasius, plaice, pomfrets, pony fish, rabbitfish and red bream/alfonsino.

Completing the list of importable items are sable fish, snapper, salmon, sardines, scad, sea bass, sea bream, sillago, smelt, sweetlips, swordfish, threadfin bream, toothfish, trevally, trout, tuna, turbot, whiting and yellowfin sole./dda