The Philippine Department of Agriculture is advancing a national tuna management plan aimed at increasing production capacity of tuna canneries, generating new jobs and improving food security, the Manila Standard reports.

Speaking at the Philippines' national tuna congress, Francisco Tiu Laurel, the country's agriculture secretary, outlined the plan's key components: "sustainable" management practices, enhanced regulation to combat illegal fishing, and the revitalization of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' technical working group on tuna fisheries.

Laurel was president of the Metro Manila, Philippines-based Frabelle Fishing Corp. before being appointed to the current government's cabinet last year but resigned from his role in the private company to avoid a conflict of interest.

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the tuna industry against challenges like climate change and overfishing. 

The Philippines is a major global tuna producer. Research firm 6Wresearch forecasts a 6.24% annual growth rate for the Philippines tuna sector through 2030, driven by eco-labeled and sustainably sourced products.