Arthur Yap, Philippines' department of agriculture secretary, has issued a Fishery Administrative Order (FAO) to ban the harvest of tuna smaller than 500 grams, effective this month. FAO 226 aims to rebuild tuna stocks in the territory, particularly in the Celebes Sea, Davao Gulf, Moro Gulf and Sulu Sea.
Yap said that tuna, one of the Philippines' top export earners, needs to be protected, and added that the maximum amount of small tuna bycatch is 10 percent.
FAO 226 gives a three-year grace period for tuna fishing boats to comply with the new regulation. In year one, it is expected that 10 percent of all existing tuna purse seines will convert to legal net sizes to reduce bycatch, with 20 percent by year two and 70 by year three.
Malcolm Sarmiento, director of the Philippines' bureau of fisheries and aquatic resources, stated that FAO 226 was issued in line with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission's policy to increase stocks of juvenile tuna in the Pacific region. The Philippines is a member of the commission.
