The FFSAPI–SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement Project has expressed strong support for the adoption of Harvest Control Rules and Target Reference Points for yellowfin and bigeye tuna at the upcoming WCPFC22 meeting in Manila. In official letters to WCPFC members and Philippine fisheries leaders through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the organizations acknowledged recent scientific progress confirming that tuna stocks are not overfished and highlighting advancements in Management Strategy Evaluation work.
Representing 88 handline vessels, the FIP urged WCPFC and the Philippine Delegation to accelerate key actions: adopting science-based HCRs, finalizing TRPs, advancing mixed fishery MSE models, and ensuring deeper inclusion of small-scale fisheries in regional management. The groups emphasized that these measures are crucial for tuna sustainability and directly support the FIP’s pathway toward MSC certification.
The Philippine handline sector reaffirmed its commitment to responsible, science-based fisheries management and called for leadership at WCPFC22 to secure a sustainable and competitive tuna industry for future generations.
