Philippines Discovers New Commercial Tuna Fishing Groundsff

These are the recent developments concluded by the state-of-the-art vessel MV DA-BFAR in continuous survey of the fishing ground conducted by the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources). In the last quarter of the year, the vessel will resume its survey in the shores of Batanes.

According to Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor: “This is breaking news and a great opportunity for our commercial fishers considering that most of the traditional fishing grounds in the country are no longer as productive as they were a decade ago”. He also added that the findings would encourage the commercial fishery sector to venture in offshore fisheries.

In a report, BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. noted that potential fishing grounds are located along the Eastern Luzon and Visayas sides, specifically off Polilio Islands, Casiguran Sound, Eastern and Northern Catanduanes and Eastern Samar; in Western Luzon along Curimao and vicinities; and in the eastern side of Mindanao along Davao Oriental and part of Surigao Strait.

“These fishing grounds were found to have abundance of commercial species and other aquatic resources on the basis of oceanographic and hydro acoustics surveys and actual exploratory-fishing operations conducted by the MV DA-BFAR, a fisheries management, oceanographic and training vessel of the agency,” Sarmiento indicated.

The report also stated that, in a series of actual exploratory fishing operations undertaken by the vessel using tuna purse seine, 14.5 tons of fish caught from two payao (FAD's or Fish Aggregating Device) along the area off Polilio Island and 11 tons in one payao installed 90 nautical miles from the shoreline of Guluan in Eastern Samar. There was also significant catch observed during the tuna long line operations.

Montemayor also announced that the result of the oceanographic studies revealed that the waters in Western Luzon off Polilio Islands and East of Mindanao manifested up welling areas that are generally characterized by high productivity, hence considered potential fishing grounds.

An upwelling indicates the transport of nutrients within the bottom shelf to the surface layer of the sea.

The BFAR chief said they have invited the private sector to participate in the operations.