Tuna exports from the Philippines have been forecast to increase by approximately 10% as demand rises. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) attributed the growth in demand to the European BSE crisis, as consumers turned to fish instead of red meat.
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Last year, Philippines tuna fishers cut their output by 40% as canning capacity fell, but this trend has now been reversed. Exports now account for some 40% of production, with most of the fish going to other Asian markets or to Europe.
Meanwhile, BFAR confirmed it expects fish production to rise by 3.8% this year, although it is difficult to procure accurate data, as some fishing companies land their catch at private wharves.
