Building Responsible Fisheries: Social Policies Signing, Studies Updates, and Other Commitments

Stakeholders of the tuna handline sector gathered on March 12, 2026 at Venue 88, General Santos City for the activity titled “Building Responsible Fisheries through Social Policies Signing and Launch, Compliance Updates, and Industry Commitments.” The event marked an important milestone of the SARGEN Tuna Handline Fisheries Improvement Project in strengthening responsible fisheries practices and promoting ethical labor standards in the industry.

A key highlight of the event was the ceremonial signing of several social policies, including the Work Agreement Policy, Onboarding Procedures, Recording of Work Hours Policy, Health and Safety and Personal Protective Equipment Policy, and the Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species Policy. These policies aim to promote fair working conditions, safety at sea, and responsible fishing practices among handline fishers. Participants further expressed their support by signing a Pledge Wall, symbolizing their commitment to the newly launched policies.

The project launched Audio-Visual Presentations covering key social policies, including the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy, Confidential Grievance Mechanism, and Age Verification Process. These materials aim to raise awareness among fishers and ensure better understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Technical presentations were also conducted, including updates on the Fisheries Observer Study present by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Vessel Monitoring System installation updates, an orientation on the Alon VMS and SkyTracker Management System, as well as rapid histamine monitoring solutions for product safety.