(IntraFish) Its industry players want the government to make the country's fishery sector more competitive globally.
The Philippines' tuna industry renewed its call to the national government to institute vital reforms to energize the sector, reported Business Mirror.
Industry players at a tuna congress are calling for the creation of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to make the fishery sector competitive globally.
Currently, the country is represented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), an agency under the Department of Agriculture, headed by a director.
Participants at a tuna congress also requested the Maritime Industry Administration and the BFAR to fast-track the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the handline fishing law.
Rules implementation has become important now that the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission granted early this year fishing access to Philippine fishing vessels at Pocket 1 of the world’s fishing grounds under a special management arrangement.
Congress participants also supported privatization efforts of the Makar Port and the drawing up of a master plan for the development of the General Santos City Airport, which are both vital modes of transportation to the tuna industry.