Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for Bankability

CTR Reference No.

429326

Title of the project

Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for

Bankability

Implementing organisations

WWF Philippines and WWF Austria

Project Location/s

Occidental Mindoro

Operational Duration

(start date – end date of activities)

Feb 1, 2022- Jan 31, 2025

Allocated budget

(EU contribution only)

Eur 1,250,000

Overall and Specific objectives (simplified – for publication)

Overall Objective: A fully sustainable sourcing and

equitable seafood production leads to an enabled

and strengthened ecology-based economies of the

fisheries and aquaculture sector in the Philippines.

Specific Objective: Sustainable fishing and

resource-efficient processing practices in Occidental

Mindoro allow for a more equitable participation in

national and international seafood supply chains.

Main target groups

(1) Three (3) industry associations: Philippine

Association of Tuna Processors, Inc.; Fresh Frozen

Seafood Association of the Philippines; and Philippine

Cephalopod Association of Producers and Exporters,

Inc.

(2) Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers

Associations

(3) Women’s Committee in Occidental Mindoro

Main activities (simplified – for publication)

1. Work with MSMEs to reduce post-harvest

losses through the provision of training in

innovations in tuna processing practices.

2. Training and capacity building session to

upskill the capacity for MSMEs to meet

International Traceability and Sustainability

Standards.

Development of sustainable alternative

livelihoods with MSMEs resulting in a

portfolio of bankable projects and establish

financing mechanisms for sustainability-led

investments in sustainable and alternative

livelihood.

4. Share experiences and lessons learned

through the contracting of communication

materials and paraphernalia which will be

shared and published in local and regional

platforms, including the Coral Triangle

Program Knowledge Platform, including the

Coral Triangle Center in Bali, Indonesia.

Sustainability of the Project

FINANCIAL:

- Developing feasibility plans for new and

improved livelihood systems, and the

subsequent business planning exercises for

select project to ensure the bankability of the

entire portfolio.

- Ensuring financing mechanisms and

investment funds are secured for livelihood

systems ensures their financial sustainability

by working closely with stakeholders such as

the BFAR, the Department of Finance, and

the Department of Trade and Industry, as

well as financial institutions.

- By improving stock health, operational

efficiency and market value, the Action will

de-risk investment (currently perceived as

high risk) and attract fisheries investment

experts to invest.

INSTITUTIONAL:

- The formation of the Provincial Tuna Industry

Development Council, responsible for

implementing and monitoring the Occidental

Mindoro Tuna Road Map, will be an

important step in ensuring the continuity of

the action.

- Local, community-based organizations: The

Tuna Fishers’ Associations (TFAs), the

Industry Associations, and Women’s

Committees will be key target groups and

stakeholders in the project, capacitated to

achieve efficiency and certifiable standards

and quality of fishing and post harvesting, as

well as active stakeholders in fishing

governance.

- The development of institutional linkages

between the TFAs and Women’s Committees

and investors and financial institutions will put

in motion investment models and institutional

relationships.

- Identification of community leaders from the

TFAs, LGUs, and women’s committees to

train in area management that will advocate

for the needs and interests of the fishing

communities, building future leaders.

POLICY-LEVEL:

- Engagement with the Provincial Government

of Occidental Mindoro together with the

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as

well as Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR) in advancing the

Occidental Mindoro Tuna Road Map and the

formation of Provincial Tuna Industry and

Development Council so as to ensure that all

the management actions and measures

initiated on this project will be

institutionalized.

- Contribution in national policy frameworks to

improve fisheries in the country (such as the

National Comprehensive Industry Action Plan

and the Comprehensive Post-Harvest,

Marketing, and Ancillary Industries Plan) and

international commitments under SDG 14,

12, 1, 5, and 8 for resource-efficient

sustainable and equitable seafood supply

chains.

- Establishment of concept for the nationallevel

Fishery Improvement Programs (FIPs),

mainstreaming the socio-economic impact

measures derived from the internationally

recognized Social Responsibility Assessment

tool for the Seafood Sector.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

- Sustainable, resource-efficient technologies

and practices reduce post-harvest losses to

mitigate waste generation in the tuna seafood

supply chain.

- New or improved existing sustainable

livelihood systems (e.g. insect feeds farming

that use bio-waste for propagation) to create

new investment opportunities that will ease

pressure on the oceans, advance circular

economies, and improve the welfare of the

small-scale fisherfolk.

- Behavioral change of communities,

government authorities, industry

associations, and financial institutions to

engage in sustainable seafood sourcing,

advancing sustainable fishery economies.

Target SDGs

SDGs 1, 8, 12, and 14.