The bill will allow for an alternate transshipment port for fish caught using the group purse seining or handline fishing method.
A group purse seining” is a fishing method utilizing a net with a series of rings at its bottom. The “handline fishing” meanwhile is a fishing method utilizing a hook and line and passive fishing gear. The bill also designate landing ports in General Santos City, Philippines as a transshipment port for fish caught by a group purse seining or handline fishing operation.General Santos City was designated via a foreign fishing agreement.The bill has been passed on first reading and is now with the Senate Committee on Resources, Commerce and Trade.Fishing companies from General Santos City earlier lamented the USD 0.35 per kg export tax imposed by Palau on tuna and tuna-like species are hefty.
