Fishery is a key component of the Philippine primary sector – agriculture, fishing and forestry. About one million people or five percent of the country’s labor force depend on fishery for livelihood. It contributed an average of 4% to gross domestic product and 19% to gross value added in agriculture, fishing and forestry.
The Philippine Tuna is a major industry that accounts about 12% of total fish production. It is an important component of the national economy, generating more than 120,000 jobs and US$280 million in annual exports. The total landings in the Philippines exceed 400,000 metric tons annually. The Philippines ranks second in world tuna catches, and fifth among canned tuna producers.
Mindanao’s tuna industry has a current annual value of roughly P 6 billion. This includes approximately P 3 billion in fish landings and P 3 billion in value added processing. The industry is primarily centered in General Santos City and supports about 75,000 direct jobs and generates foreign exchange earnings of about US$ 160 million.