The Department of Agriculture (Philippines) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have signed new agreements with Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands to strengthen cooperation in the fisheries sector.
The Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority and a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA). The deals focus on marine protection, food security, and developing a “blue economy.”
The agreements also cover closer cooperation on fisheries trade, aquaculture, technical training, technology sharing, and efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Officials from all sides said the partnerships aim to improve sustainable ocean management and long-term fisheries resilience.
The deals come as fisheries remain under pressure. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a 6.1% drop in fisheries output in the first quarter, with declines in key species such as tuna, squid, milkfish, and shrimp, although some fish species posted gains during the period.
