Philippines And Indonesia Blamed For Dwindling Tuna Stocksff

An American fisheries expert last week said the Philippines and Indonesia may have contributed to the depletion of tuna stocks, particularly yellowfin and bigeye, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO).

Stanley Swerdloff, senior fisheries adviser of Growth With Equity in Mindanao, warned of a looming crisis in the tuna industry unless stringent measures are observed to arrest the dwindling stocks in those oceans.

Citing findings by the Oceanic Fisheries Program of the Secretariat of Pacific Communities, Swerdloff explained that dwindling resources at the WCPO is triggered by massive fleet expansion of new players over the last 15 years. ”The danger signs are already there. Expect that within five to 10 years, the (tuna) population would be in an over-fished stage,” he said.

The scientific community, Swerdloff claimed, is of the opinion that the Philippines has been making a great impact particularly in yellowfin production.

In a 20-page report, Swerdloff blamed the decline in tuna population to the decrease in spawning biomass in the WCPO. Biomass is a function of the number of spawning adults, number of young fish recruited into the population, minus the effects of natural mortality (predation, disease, starvation) and fishing mortality (human fisheries activity).

Swerdloff acknowledged, however, that the role of the Philippines and Indonesia in the reduction of yellowfin and bigeye could be contested in the absence of reliable data from both governments. ”The records kept by both governments are spotty and, in the case of the Philippines, the total tuna landings have been severely understated until recently,” he said.

Unlike skipjack tuna, which is considered still as a healthy stock due to its early sexual maturity at less than one year of age within WCPO, yellowfin can reproduce from two to three years while bigeye from three to four years.

WCPO is said to be an extremely valuable resource ground, generating over $3 billion (raw product) in annual revenues for the Pacific Island and Pacific Rim countries.

Value adding generates at least an additional $1 billion per annum.

There are at least seven major fishing countries catching tuna in the WCPO, and 14 Pacific Island states who are trying to cash in on the tuna resources as they pass through their Exclusive Economic Zones.

Swedrloff said the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which consists of 22-member states including the Philippines, is trying to determine how to reduce fishing efforts in the high seas outside of Pacific Island jurisdiction.

One measure being proposed is a three-month seasonal closure of the high seas.

Seasonal closure, said Swerdloff, will have severe impact on the estimated 80 Philippine purse seiners that are fishing on the high seas.

Most of these vessels fish the high seas because the Philippines has not secured access to Pacific Island fishing grounds.