Spotlight on General Santos City’s Tuna Handline Fishing Sector
Tuna Handline fishing is an important component of the Philippines’ fishing industry, 80 percent of which is centered here in General Santos City, the country’s “Tuna Capital.”
A tuna handline fishing boat at the General Santos City Fishport Development Authority Compound
The sector consists of 2,500 outrigger boats, employs over 40,000 fishermen, and lands over 30,000 MT of high-value tuna each year. The TUNA handline fishing sector posts annual revenues of around P4.5 billion, with the frozen sashimi processing sector accounting for more than 50 % of this figure or P2.5 billion in total export earnings.
Handline fishing uses the traditional hook and line method and is considered one of the best means of catching large tuna and marlin. The method is also eco-friendly as handline fishermen catch only mature fish and so is prudent in terms of fish resource management.
Last year, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9379 or “An Act Defining Handline Fishing, Providing Effective Regulations Therefore and for Other Purposes,” which frees the handline sector from restrictive government policies and sets more practical manning and registration requirements for hand-line operators and fisherfolk.
South Cotabato First District Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio sponsored the handline bill in the Lower House, while Senators Ramon Magsaysay, Manuel Roxas and Senate President Manuel Villar sponsored the counterpart bill in the Senate.
RA 9379 defines commercial handline fishing as “a traditional, passive fishing method which utilizes a single line and an attached hook.” A commercial tuna handline fishing vessel, on the other hand, is defined as “a commercial fishing vessel that exclusively utilizes the commercial hand-line fishing method.”
Under the new law, a tuna handline boat master need not be a licensed boat captain, and will be issued a license by MARINA once he or she undergoes theoretical and practical training. Further, boat engine officers are not required to have college graduate diplomas or to be licensed as boat engineers if they completed the training required by MARINA.
Moreover, RA 9379 clearly specifiies the roles of Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The registration, inspection, manning and other documentation requirements of tuna handline fishing boats as “flag” boats will be done by MARINA, while the licensing and related documentation of these vessels as fishing boats will fall under the mandate of BFAR.
To better understand, how tuna handline fishermen catch these big, giant tuna, here is a video I got from Youtube of the similar traditional fishing method practiced by fishermen in Maldives. I couldn’t find anywhere else a video with Pinoy or GenSan fishermen in it. Anyway, here goes…
Source: GEM
Related posts:
- About Bariles
- Latest Images of the Gen. Santos City Fishport Complex
- Gen. Santos City: TUNA CAPITAL
- 10 Handline Fishermen honored at Gabi ng Parangal para sa Mandaragat
- Presidentiables at Tuna Congress 2009
If you like this post, then help support this blog's maintenance.
Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
dimple Says:
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Rhey Says:
Thats good news… Sana effective sa Company namin
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 3:12 PM
bryan tablazon Says:
Oo tama ka Sir Avel…kasi sa out of 10 na canning sa buong pilipinas 8 ang naka base sa gensan kaya napaka importante tlga ang fishing industry natin d2 s gensan kasi 70% ang nagtratrabaho sa canning……..at ito rin ang pinakamalaking tax payer sa buong rehiyon…at ang ating pinagmamalaking International Standard Fishport Complex….kaya Go Gensan GO
To all readers and visiting the website
Welcome To The Tuna Capital Of The Philippines
General Santos City 9500 Philippines
thank you for reading
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 8:17 PM
dimple Says:
dibah na implement naman ni boss?
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Kritiko Says:
Go generals!!!!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 7:10 AM
orman Says:
lest we forget — the real reason why we’re called the tuna capital is because of the HANDLINE FISHING INDUSTRY. they are the ones who catch the big yellowfin tuna that has become familiar the world over. the person behind the push for the passing of the bill on handline fishing is KUYA ROGER LIM SR. who withstood all the brick bracks that came his way.
ormans last blog post..Hallelujah
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 9:22 PM
bariles Says:
@Orman, our hats off to Kuya Roger then.
Posted on January 14th, 2009 at 9:25 AM
bariles Says:
Hehehe! Thanks Bryan!
Posted on January 30th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
miles Says:
thank u so much for this post sir..our family is into tuna handline fishing business and nakakataba ng puso na malaman na pinapahalagahan pala ng mga generals ang tuna industry natin..
Posted on January 31st, 2009 at 8:22 PM
bariles Says:
@miles, the pleasure is mine. The city owes a lot to your family and other families who are into this business. Kung wala kayo, wala rin sana kami lahat. Saludo ang Bariles Republic at ang libu-libong mga mambabasa nito sa inyo. Mabuhay ang handline fishermen! Mabuhay tayong lahat!
Posted on January 31st, 2009 at 8:28 PM
miles Says:
@bariles –
mabuhay tayong lahat!!thanks also for putting up soccsksargen bloggers..nice site..ang also this site of yours..very informative..dami kong nalalaman especially food trips..hehehe
Posted on February 1st, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Jordan Ray Quinco Says:
hihihi.. naawa ako sa pagpalo sa tuna sa ulo.. huhuhu
Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Bandila features GenSan’s Giant Tuna | GenSan News Online Mag Says:
[...] gives us a quick and amusing look on the unloading of these giant tuna (30 kgs-70kgs up) from the handline fishing boats which have just arrived from their 2-month expedition on the high [...]
Posted on November 6th, 2009 at 8:11 AM
voltaire jay Says:
Nice to Hear po that my Home town is really truly develop na…..
mainam po atang, GENERAL SANTOS’ bariles Capitol or generals…
palitan na po cguro ang BOOMTOWN GSC… Naging booming area tuloy.
Congrats po sa lahat ng NAMUMUNO now at mga kababayans….
sa GENERAL SANTOS CITY……..dadiangas !!! mabuhay !!!
Posted on November 16th, 2009 at 10:33 PM
voltaire jay8253 Says:
kay gandang pakinggan…………………….
TUNA CAPITAL of the Phils.
HOOOOORAY !!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.cf-wellness.com
8253
Posted on November 16th, 2009 at 10:36 PM