Philippines Considering Bluefin Tuna Farmsff

The Philippines is seriously considering putting up blue-fin tuna farms off the southern region because of its high value abroad, particularly in Japan, where it is considered a delicacy. 

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is studying the viability of culturing blue-fin tuna along the seas of Sarangani Bay and nearby waters off Southern Mindanao, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) said. 

It quoted Rueben Ganaden, deputy director of DA's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as saying that the proposed tuna farms are alternative option to the dwindling tuna resources. 

“Bluefin tuna farming is fast becoming a major industry in Australia and Spain. Right now we are looking at tapping their technologies to jump start our own venture,” Ganaden said, adding that bluefin tuna is being sold in Japan as high as US$5,000 per kilo. 

Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban has strongly supported the plan of putting up of tuna farms off General Santos City and other areas in southern Mindanao, citing, that Spain has been doing well in its tuna-farming venture and is now exporting to Japan and other countries. 

Fishing is a P50-billion industry in the Philippines, contributing about 4% of the country’s GNP. With an annual production volume of 2.4 million metric tons of fish, it directly provides livelihood and employment to over one

The Philippines ranks 7th among the top tuna producing countries in the world, both in terms of fresh and frozen and canned tuna. General Santos is the country’s leading supplier of canned tuna, high value sashimi tuna and tuna steaks to the Japanese, European and American markets. 

During a visit here earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Domingo

Panganiban personally endorsed the putting up of tuna farms “in the seas of

GenSan and elsewhere in Southern Mindanao.” He cited that Spain has been doing well in its tuna farming venture and is now exporting to Japan and other countries. 

Panganiban said the government may request from “Mother Spain” the transfer of its tuna farming technologies here “for old time’s sake.” 

Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez earlier proposed the establishment of tuna farms, specifically for yellowfin tuna, along the Sarangani Bay. 

Dominguez said his province is a potential area for yellowfin tuna farming, which involves the raising of the migratory yellowfin tuna in a controlled environment, being an identified spawning ground for the valuable fish specie. 

Fishery studies showed that yellowfin tuna spawns along the bay and then stays in the area for four to five months before migrating to deeper waters.

Local tuna industry players initially endorsed Dominguez’s proposal but not one has offered to venture into it mainly due to its huge investment requirements. 

Ganaden said their recent studies showed that yellowfin tuna farming may not be a viable venture due to the high feed requirement of the yellowfin tuna species, which mainly thrive on smaller fishes. “The production and market trends show that bluefin tuna farming would be the most viable venture,” he said. 

Ganaden pointed out that bluefin, which is currently found in the waters off