The environment group made the call as governments, including the Philippines, gather in Guam this week for the meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), of which the Philippines is a member.
The group said that based on a report from Canadian rankings of the industry showing that global fisheries are steadily moving towards fulfilling markets’ growing demands for "responsibly-sourced tuna," as a response to the rapid decline of global tuna stocks.
“Many of the major global markets for tuna, such as the UK and Canada, are now demanding fish caught using sustainable means. They fully realize that the current rate of fishing cannot continue,” said Mark Dia, Greenpeace Southeast Asia oceans campaigner.
She said: “The Philippines has to ensure that it is recognized as a certified source, otherwise the country risks losing out to other players.”
The WCPFC is an intergovernmental body whose meetings are crucial in deciding the future of Pacific tuna. Decisions taken by the body this week will have repercussions on tuna populations for generations to come.
Greenpeace is demanding that the WCPFC listen to consumer and industry demand for sustainable tuna and end all fishing in the Pacific Commons, continue the ban on wasteful FAD in purse seine fisheries and cut the bigeye tuna catch in half.
The current call of the Philippines to lift the ban is detrimental to the preservation of tuna stocks for future generations, the group said.'
It added that certain areas in the Pacific have been closed to FAD fishing for the past three years as a result of conservation measures taken by the WCPFC in response to the decline in bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks.
The Philippines, however, is lobbying to reverse these conservation measures. “It is time that the Philippines realize that their efforts to open the High Seas Pockets to FAD fishing will be detrimental in the longer term. We need to take conservation measures now both domestically and internationally in order to ensure fish for the future” Dia added.
The Philippines is the second largest canned tuna producer in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) following Thailand, and is the third biggest supplier of canned tuna.
The WCPO is the world’s largest tuna fishery, where roughly 60% of the world’s tuna supplies come from. Greenpeace said that valuable bigeye tuna is now overfished and yellowfin, skipjack and albacore tunas are all in decline. Destructive fishing methods, such as purse seine fishing using FADs, are largely to blame, and because the WCPFC has failed to follow its own scientific advice of reducing tuna catches, the group added.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The US remains Vietnam’s largest single market for shrimp imports, accounting for 20% of Vietnam's total shrimp exports globally. As of October 15th, 2024, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US reached nearly 600 million dollas, marking a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to Canada reached over 1 million USD in the first half of October 2024, a 33% decrease compared to the same period last year. However, by October 15, 2024, total pangasius exports to Canada had reached 32 million USD, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Cà Mau is accelerating its digital transformation, developing green industries, and promoting high-tech processing of agricultural and aquatic products, with a focus on sustainable economic growth and environmental protection.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Dong Thap Pangasius Festival 2024, themed 'Dong Thap Pangasius: Green Journey - Green Value', will take place on November 16-17 in Hong Ngu City.
The positive business momentum in the domestic seafood sector could last into the first half of 2025, according to experts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three quarters of 2024, brackish water shrimp production exceeded 1.1 million tons, with export revenue reaching $2.8 billion. The seafood industry has set a target of $4 billion for shrimp exports for the entire year.
While the price of 1 kg of shrimp hovers around 20 USD, the value of 1 kg of chitosan—extracted from shrimp—can soar to 500 USD. This highlights a significant challenge within the seafood processing industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By October, Vietnam's shrimp exports had generated nearly $3 billion, reflecting an increase of over 10% compared to the same period last year. Shrimp remains the leading commodity contributing to the export turnover of the entire seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company (FIMEX VN - HoSE: FMC) concluded Q3/2024 with significant growth in revenue. Specifically, Sao Ta Food recorded revenue of VND 2,845 billion, a 58.6% increase year-on-year. The company's profit after tax reached VND 95 billion, up 6.2%.
VASEP's Seafood Export Report for the third quarter of 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of Vietnam's seafood export performance in the first nine months, with impressive results reaching $7.2 billion—an increase of 9% over the same period last year. In the third quarter alone, seafood exports grew by 15%, totaling $2.8 billion. This growth is attributed to a recovery in demand and prices in key markets such as the U.S. and China, as well as the competitive advantage of value-added products in markets like Japan and Australia.
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