Philippines fishing industry put on notice

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE Philippines fishing industry has been put on notice through the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru, to his counterpart of the Trade and Industry Department of the Philippines during the APEC meeting in Lima, Peru..

While referring to the huge imbalance in trade between both countries, minister Maru elaborated on the biggest imbalance of all in the fisheries sector.

“One of the way that they benefit is the Philippines fishing boats are bringing 70% of the Tuna catch back to the Philippines and processed in the Philippines,” Maru said.

“What I have explained to the minister is that as soon as we start the marine park (PMIZ) we are now going to change the policy so no one will be allowed to take unprocessed fish into the Philippines or any other country for that matter.”

“I have given notice to the Philippines government that this is going to happen. We do not want in future, when we build a marine park, anyone to fish and take fish to other canneries throughout the world including Philippines.”

He made the stance known by the conflict of interest the country faces with job employment and creation, along with the competition for the European Market that both countries compete for, despite the irony that the Philippines competes with tuna from PNG to sell as their own.

“The reason is because when you bring fish to other canneries you are creating employment to them in their country.”

“The other aspect is that Philippines has now what we call market access to the European Union. What it means is that their fish also goes to the European Union market without paying duty.”

“And they are competing with fish from Papua New Guinea. We also have the same market access agreement.”

“When our fish is caught in PNG water by the Filipino boats go to the Philippines and it is processed as if it is their fish and they sell it to the same market that we are also competing.”