The past two years have been evidently difficult for the Philippine Tuna Fishing Industry. Even to date, the sector is still trying to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID – 19 pandemic that had resulted in a drastic drop in seafood prices and global demand at the onset.
Gathering the insights on the current issues and challenges of each sector, a series of Focus Group Discussions were conducted as early as February 24, 2022 with the purse seine and ringnet operators, handliners, fresh frozen processors, canneries, katsuboshi manufacturers, academe, government, and non- government agencies providing a venue to openly discuss and hear the plight of the industry.
Based on the FGDs and research, resolutions
are now being drafted in preparation for the National Tuna Congress (NTC). For
the past 21 years, the NTC had been passing and adopting Congress Resolutions
that key industry stakeholders jointly formulated to urge concerned agencies to take action on
timely and relevant issues concerning the industry.
This year, aligned
with the 22nd National Tuna Congress Theme, “Philippine Tuna
Industry: Braving through Rough Seas Toward a Better Tomorrow”, this year’s resolutions
reflect each sector’s concerns and challenges
they have encountered over the past two years and yet still kept going to
ensure livelihood and food security to the community.
The 22nd National Tuna Congress Resolution Committee
members are composed of representatives from the private sector, academe,
government agencies, non-government agencies, and other allied industries to
guarantee well representation and capture the key issues of the industry.
The congress is slated on September 1-2, 2022 at the SM City General
Santos, General Santos City.
