This week's Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Business Summit in Manila, Philippines, ended on an upbeat note, as a number of major companies and organizations signed partnership agreements to promote sustainable fisheries.
Good fishing practices such as the use of circle-hook technology to comply with bycatch reduction in tuna fisheries is one of the responsible fishing methods discussed at the summit.
In this aspect, the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corporation (PADCC) agreed to share technology and information with Wooriranch Co. Ltd. and PAMPANO, a Philippine organization whose membership comprises mainly of fishermen and their families.
Public-private initiatives initiated by the World Wildlife Fund's Seafood Savers program included letters of intent from Bali Seafood, Sea Delights and Pulau Mas. The initiative is designed to promote sustainable seafood by encouraging fisheries and farms to pursue Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, with assistance from the WWF.
Anova Foods, one of the United States' largest seafood distributors, was acknowledged for its commitment to improve fisheries. The company has partner with the WWF for the past two years on a joint venture called the Fishing and Living Program, which is intended to reduce bycatch and encourage tuna, snapper and grouper fisheries in Indonesia to seek MSC certification.
"Business partnerships with companies like Anova can have a positive impact on sustainable fisheries as well as the socioeconomic welfare of … the fishing community," said Kate Newman, managing director of WWF's Coral Triangle program.
"We fully support the Coral Triangle Initiative in its conservation efforts," added Anova President Doug Brinsmade. "It is part of our core values to drive the industry to more sustainable fishing methods to protect the longevity of the species and provide an improved quality of life for the local fishing communities."
D&L Seafoods, Frabelle Marine and TSP Marine were also recognized for their support in providing data for a carbon footprint study of tuna in the Coral Triangle.
Cebu Pacific Airlines announced that it would step up its "Bright Skies For Every Juan" campaign in 2010 and continue its support for the WWF Climate Adaptation program on Apo Reef, Sablayan, Philippines.
Dr. Lida Pet Soede, head of WWF's Coral Triangle program, called the summit a huge success, adding that it laid the foundation for greater participation of the private sector in the protection of the Coral Triangle.
"This first-ever CTI Business Summit has been a great success, and the private sector has shown it is willing to take greater responsibility for the millions of livelihoods that depend on the health of the marine environment in this part of the world," said Pet Soede.
The Coral Triangle covers 6 million square kilometres of the Indian and Pacific oceans and includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
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January 24, 2010
