Philippines Targets Bigger Tuna Landings With Fleet Upgrade

The Philippines wants tuna fishing activities to flourish in its Northern Samar province. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently announced that it has supplied PHP 42.7 million (USD 693,840) worth of fishing boats and gears to local fishers’ associations to catch tuna in the WCPO. The beneficiaries received fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) handline fishing boats, small motorized auxiliary catch vessels, and fishing gear, as part of the BFAR’s Tuna Development Program and Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolk Program. This initiative intends to boost fishing activities, secure food supplies, and uplift the livelihoods of small-scale municipal fishers through vessel upgrades and resource management, reported Filipino news sites.

A government spokesperson explained that the initiative aims to support the Philippines’ continuing efforts to strengthen food security, improve the socio-economic conditions of fisherfolk families, and build resilient fishing communities across the region. Northern Samar is known for its rich fishing grounds, particularly tuna. BFAR hopes that the Northern Samar region can land at least 160 tons of tuna and other fish annually, especially with more boats at sea.