RP urged to lead in tuna, whale shark conservation

The Pew Environment Group is urging the Philippines to take the lead and push for greater controls on tuna fishing vessels to conserve tuna and protect whale sharks.

 

This year, the country will host the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Manila from Dec. 2-6, 2012, and member-governments will discuss creating a new measure on conservation and management of tuna, as well as several measures related to sharks.

 

In a statement Friday, the group said scientists have revealed that bigeye tuna was overfished and yellowfin tuna needed management procedures to prevent overfishing. It said the Philippines catches more tuna than any other country – except Japan – and has a responsibility to secure the future for Pacific tuna.

 

“The Philippines now has the opportunity to be a leader by pushing to protect whale sharks, the gentle giants, for the benefit of economically valuable local ecotourism. Worldwide, these sharks generate at least $47.5 million in tourism revenue each year, with whale sharks in some locations being worth more than $2 million annually over the course of their lives,” said Elizabeth Wilson, who works on shark conservation for the Pew Evironment Group.

 

The group said that the Philippines is the only country allowed to fish in high seas ‘pockets’ or areas withinWCPFC’s jurisdiction but outside the exclusive economic zones of specific countries. In exchange, it must report its catch, limit the number of fishing vessels to 36, apply for international fishing permits before entering the pockets, and have on board observers. This exemption for the Philippines and its compliance will be scrutinized at theWCPFC meeting.

 

The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a

nongovernmental organization that works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based

policies that protect our oceans, preserve our wild lands and promote clean energy. — Edgardo Tugade/VS, GMA News