Members of the Senate have been invited to attend the 23rd National Tuna Congress in General Santos, Philippines.
The event is slated for September 3 to 5, 2024, with the Theme, “ Securing the Future of Philippine Tuna Industry: A Competitiveness Agenda.
The event is organized by the esteemed SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), a key player in the tuna industry.
Palau has been actively seeking to strengthen its fisheries cooperation with the Philippines, a partnership that promises mutual benefits, particularly with fishing companies in General Santos City.
General Santos City is dubbed the tuna capital of the Philippines. It claims to be the largest producer of sashimii-grade tuna in the country.
Tuna vessels from the Philippines also purchase fishing vessels from Palau.
Palau is a member of PNA, which allocates tuna fishing quotas under its vessel-day scheme (VDS).
VDS has reaped huge economic benefits for Palau and the PNA countries.
The PNA controls the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse-seine fishery. The PNA’s VDS for purse seiners sets a limit on the number of fishing days allowed in the region,
Palau earns more than USD 5 million (EUR 4.1 million) annually from its tuna fishing days, according to the PNA.