Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Contacts - Philippines (+63)

Government Contacts & Information Resources for
Commercial Fishing, Seafood, Aquaculture, Marine & Oceans in Philippines

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission - Commission for the Conservation and Management  of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the  Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profile for Philippines - aquatic species caught by country or area, by species items, by FAO major fishing areas, and year, for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes. The harvest from mariculture, aquaculture and other kinds of fish farming is also included.

Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is the government agency responsible for the development, improvement, management and conservation of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources. It was reconstituted as a line bureau by virtue of Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998). The bureau is under the Department of Agriculture. This site includes fisheries legislation and catch statistics.

Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) -

Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) - Includes agriculture and fisheries statistics information for Philippines. Export products information and incentives.

PhilTuna - Fishery is a key component of the Philippine primary sector – agriculture, fishing and forestry. About one million people or five percent of the country’s labor force depend on fishery for livelihood. It contributed an average of 4% to gross domestic product and 19% to gross value added in agriculture, fishing and forestry. The Philippine Tuna is a major industry that accounts about 12% of total fish production. It is an important component of the national economy, generating more than 120,000 jobs and US$280 million in annual exports. The total landings in the Philippines exceed 400,000 metric tons annually. The Philippines ranks second in world tuna catches, and fifth among canned tuna producers.

The Southern Philippines Boat Owners and Tuna Association (SPBOTA) is composed of five (5) large commercial fishing companies that are operating super seiner fishing vessels (above 250 gross ton carrying capacity). It consists about 18 purse seine set. One purse seine set is composed of about seven (7) support vessels (i.e. catcher boat, carriers, and service boats). Total vessels are 126 and manned by at least 1,170 crewmen.

Tuna Cooperative - The primary objective of the cooperative is to engage in the joint production and processing of tuna and fishing products and marketing thereof, as well as generate funds and extend credit to the members for productive and provident purposes. It is an agricultural multi-purpose cooperative which shall be opened to all fish producers and traders.

Tuna Canners Association General Santos (TCAGS) - It is comprised of six (6) tuna canneries all based in General Santos City. The 6 canneries have a combined production capacity of about 700 metric tons per day.

Fresh Frozen Seafood Association - Tuna Processors Philippines, Inc. (FFSA-TPPI) pioneered the production of sashimi quality frozen tuna that is processed with so-called "filtered smoke technology". It strategically positions itself in the global trading environment, thus still maintaining the lead in producing premium quality tuna products.

The South Cotabato Purse Seiners Association (SOCOPA) is consists of 41 fishing companies that operate group purse seine fishing vessels (carrying capacity is about 20 to 150 gross tons). This group has at least 160 purse seine sets or 1,120 vessels and manned by approximately 10,500 crewmen.

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center - For four decades, SEAFDEC has been recognized by the Member Countries as an organization that promotes sustainable fisheries development in the region on various aspects. Activities are conducted under interdisciplinary approach covering – responsible fisheries and aquaculture technologies and practices, post-harvest technology, international and intra-regional fish trade, fisheries management concepts and approaches, policy and advisory services, and addressing international fisheries issues.

The Umbrella Fish Landing Association (UFLA) is composed of about 100 members engaged in fishing and fish trading. Some of its members also include fish vendors and scalers. This group supplies the domestic market requirements for tuna, reef fishes and small pelagics.

The Chamber of Aquaculture and Ancillary Industries of Sarangani, Inc. (CHAINS) a non-stock, non-profit organization of 27 aquaculture and ancillary firms founded in 2001 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 15 March 2002. It advocates aquaculture development as a strategy to alleviate poverty and stimulate countryside economic growth. Its various projects include joint ventures with fisherfolk cooperatives cum growership arrangements with market consolidators.

AQUASTAT is FAO's global information system on water and agriculture developed by the Land and Water Division. It collects, analyses and disseminates data and information by country and by region. Its aim is to provide users interested in global, regional and national analyses with comprehensive information related to water resources and agricultural water management across the world, with emphasis on countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Information for Philippines