August 31, 2022. Each time someone mentions General Santos City or “GenSan”, the word Tuna comes to mind. As the Philippines’ Tuna Capital, GenSan produces this highly valued fishery commodity which is usually available as fresh, chilled or frozen. Tuna also remains as the top export fishery commodity based on the 2020 Fisheries Profile issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
In 2020, during a meeting with the members of the SOCCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc (SFFAII), then-DA Secretary William D. Dar pressed for the integration of results from years of research to uplift and further improve the local tuna industry. He said, “tuna industry should be given attention as it contributes greatly to the total gross value-adding of the fishery sector.”
According to the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for Fresh-chilled and Fresh-frozen Tuna for Sashimi (PNS/BAFS 137:2014), the grading of tuna for sashimi is based on its color and condition. To know more, download the poster on tuna for sashimi available on the BAFS website at www.bafs.da.gov.ph. ###