PHL seafood exporters could make a splash in EU market — Dutch group

Local seafood exporters have the potential to do well in European markets if they meet the region's required sustainability standards, an official from the Netherlands-based Centre for the Promotion of Imports said. Hugo Verhoeven, senior program manager of Team Asia and Eastern Europe, said supermarket chains in EU require seafood imports from developing countries to have been produced through sustainable fishing practices. He cited the certification from the Marine Stewardship Council, a London-based non-profit that promotes sustainable fishing methods. "That is something which is going to be very important and if you are not able to comply with that, the chance of getting a market share of the EU market becomes less and less," he said. Verhoeven said the Philippines has huge potential in the export of prawns, seaweed and tuna. Tuna, one of the country's top dollar earners, has better possibilities in terms of sustainability, he said. — BM, GMA News