National Tuna Congress 2013 all set

The SoCSkSarGen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc  (SAFFII) is all set in its staging of the 15th Tuna National Congress next month and has timed it as it does yearly, with the Tuna Festival.

For this year, what is considered as the biggest annual gathering of  key players, stakeholders and supporters of the Philippine tuna industry will be guided by the theme: “Celebrating 15 Years of Advocacy, Partnership and Collaboration”.

The 2013 National Tuna Congress will be held on September 6-7, 2013 at a new venue – the Trade Hall of SM City General Santos.

According the SFFAII’s official website, the congress this year will be a sort of a celebration for among other things, they were  “able to improve the image of our tuna industry among foreign investors which resulted to more investments and business partnerships.”

They were also able to push to extend the fishing access of the Philippines to the high seas pocket number  one of 36 fishing vessels during the 9th Regular Session of the Wester and Central Public Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

All these were the results of 15 years of working closely together that made tackling issues in the tuna industry and searching for their solutions, easier.

Here is more about SFFAII, from their website:

Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. a non-government, non-profit organization, established in 1999 as an umbrella organization of 7 associations with a total over 100 companies involved in fishing, canning, fish processing, aquaculture production & processing and other allied industries.  Its membership cuts across the entire value chain  from the capture fisheries sector, composed of the hand line fishermen, the small, medium &  large commercial ring netters and  purse seine operators,   to the fish processing sector and exporters composed of the big canning operators, fresh chilled, frozen fish value-adding sector. It is based in General Santos City  governed by a Board of 14 Directors and by the Executive Director handling the day-to-day operations.

The member-associations of SFFAII are:

1. Southern Philippines Boat Owners and Tuna Association (SPBOTA)
2. South Cotabato Purse Seiners Association (SOCOPA)
3. Umbrella Fish Landing Association (UFLA)
4. Chamber of Aquaculture and Ancillary Industries of Sarangani, Inc. (CHAINS)
5. Tuna Canners Association General Santos  (TCAGS)
6. Fresh Frozen Seafood Association – Tuna Processors Philippines, Inc. (FFSA-TPPI)
7. Tuna Cooperative of General Santos City (Tuna Coop)

Here then is the National Tuna Congress 2013 Programme and Schedule of activities. (Click on the small box at the lower right corner to enlarge it.)

To all of the attendees of the National Tuna Congress 2013, welcome to the Tuna Capital and Magandang GenSan!