BANGKOK – Today, the United States Agency for International Development, through its Oceans and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans), and the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) announced a partnership to roll out the Philippines’ new electronic catch documentation and traceability (CDT) system for seafood products, with a focus on tuna.  

The USAID and SFFAII collaboration will help demonstrate how the CDT system can enable a transparent supply chain for seafood products originating from General Santos City, ensuring their legality, sustainability and compliance with local and import market regulations. The initial version of the CDT system, developed by the Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was completed in September 2017 and is now entering the implementation and testing phases in the port of General Santos City.

"SFFAII has a demonstrated clear understanding of the importance of managing fisheries resources, actively engaged for decades in the sustainability of the region's’ resources and an active contributor to the Philippines’ National Tuna Management Plan,” said  Angela Hogg, director of the USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia Regional Environment Office. “We are grateful for their partnership in this new endeavor to combat illegal and unregulated fishing and ensure the sustainability of the Philippines’ invaluable marine resources.”

Through this partnership, USAID and SFFAII will engage industry and fisherfolk to build awareness and industry adoption of the CDT system. By addressing key CDT barriers such as accustomed use of the current paper-based system, lack of information on CDT and its benefits, and inconsistent data collection, the partners will ensure the system is launched to an informed and equipped network of learning site fishers, processors and canneries.

SFFAII is a non-profit organization comprised of seven associations representing over 100 fishing, canning, fish processing, aquaculture production and related companies. SFFAII is connected to the SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) region’s tuna industry, located in Central Mindanao and surrounded by the Sarangani Bay, Moro Gulf and Celebes Sea in Southern Philippines. The region is home to General Santos City, the tuna capital of the Philippines and to the USAID Oceans’ learning site for CDT system demonstration and testing.

The partnership will share knowledge about sustainable fisheries management and human welfare principles through workshops, community outreach and individual training. SFFAII’s extensive membership base, strong presence and involvement in the community, and close relationship with the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will support seamless system implementation and help to build a sustainable framework for the system to grow upon.