April, 30 2025

Since its inception, the program has promoted artisanal and handline fishing, improved the traceability of yellowfin tuna supply chains, and strengthened community-based management. These efforts contributed to a major achievement, the awarding of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, a globally recognized standard for sustainable fishing. This certification, along with improved transparency and traceability, is helping to position yellowfin tuna from Occidental Mindoro and Bicol for entry into international markets, especially within the European Union.

Yellowfin tuna, the Philippines’ premier seafood export, holds cultural and economic significance for coastal communities. Known for its high quality and versatility in cuisine, the species is central to the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale fishers. But warming seas, overfishing, and overall climate change have placed increasing pressure on fish stocks and on the communities that depend on them. 

While climate change is a global challenge, WWF’s Sustainable Tuna Program has introduced localized, community-led interventions to reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and strengthen generational impact.

One such initiative is the Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for Bankability, more commonly known as Project Buhay. Funded by the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme, the project represents the latest phase of the 14-year program and focuses on improving access to markets, strengthening women’s roles in fisheries, improving community management, and addressing financial literacy.

In partnership with fisher leaders, local governments, industry actors, and the private sector, Project Buhay has supported women-led livelihood groups across Occidental Mindoro. Groups such as the Pinagpalang Mangingisda ng San Nicolas Association (PMNSA), Ligaya Flying Fish Catchers and Workers Association(LFFCWA), and Samahan ng Mangingisdang Kababaihan ng Sablayan Producers Cooperative (SAMAKA) add value to locally available species, including squid, flying fish, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna, through processing, bottling, and sustainable seafood product development. Other groups, such as those that make ice for retail, are also being supported. 

With support from the EU and key assistance from the BPI Foundation and EY GDS, the project has distributed solar panels, ice-making machines, and other critical equipment to help communities overcome persistent infrastructure challenges such as power outages and poor cold chain access. Training and capacity-building efforts also continue to ensure these investments translate into long-term impact.

Building on earlier work from the Sustainable Tuna Partnership (STP2), Project Buhay has also monitored and supported the activities of Group Savings and Loan Committees (GSLCs), self-organized fisher groups practicing community savings, financial literacy, and mutual aid. These systems have helped fishing families across Mindoro and Bicol manage their income more effectively and have access to capital. “It is important for our mission to go beyond just helping fishers to thrive,” said Joann Binondo, Overall Program Manager for the Sustainable Tuna Program. “It is vital that our fishers thrive.” 

The summit also featured a panel discussion on the yellowfin tuna supply chain, bringing together voices from across the sector to identify bottlenecks, discuss sustainability, and reinforce collaborative approaches. Representatives from the Philippine Handline Tuna Partnership, among others, emphasized the importance of aligning community-based efforts with industry standards.

“We’re ready and willing to help,” states Eiffelene Howard, head of the Young Chefs Program and CEO of Career Opportunities. Howard was also part of the supply chains panel discussion. “We’re open to collaborating with the fishers, because that’s also been our advocacy from the start, to help those in the communities.” While the tuna supply chain remains wrought with challenges and pressures from multiple segments, collaboration persists as a major solution to minimize disruptions and increase livelihood opportunities. 

Fisheries-focused NGOs, including Rare, OCEANA, the Zoological Society of London, Tambuyog Development Center, and NGOs for Fisheries Reform, alongside WWF, also participated in a separate panel dialogue on coastal development, advocacy, and the evolving role of non-profit organizations. These groups continue to play an important role as conveners, facilitators, and bridges between fisherfolk, policy, and representation. The panelists tackled issues such as grounding conservation work in communities, beating advocacy fatigue, and the importance of social science and behavior change in fisheries improvement.

One highlight of the event was the showcase of sustainable seafood products from women-led groups in Occidental Mindoro. The products, sourced from the Mindoro Strait, reflect the growing leadership and agency of women in fisheries, who are forming enterprises, building safety nets, and leading local conversations around equity. “We are proudly promoting seafood from the Mindoro Strait. We have tuna pastil from our group in Kalangigan,” said Joan Hardin, the president of the all-women group Samahan ng mga Taga Kalangigan Para sa Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran or S-3K.

Kalangigan is a remote coastal community in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, accessible only by boat or through an arduous jungle path. Such livelihood opportunities that integrate marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and the socioeconomic welfare of partner communities are integral to equitable progress. Along with S-3K,  WWF-Philippines is continuing to support groups such as the Sablayan Seafood Fishermen Cooperative (SSFC), Occidental Mindoro Tuna Fishers and Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (OMTFFACCO), and the Federation of Fisherfolk Association of Rizal (FEFAR). These groups are community-organized livelihood groups that aim to strengthen women’s participation in fisheries, as well as tackle the seasonality of yellowfin tuna and dwindling fish stocks.

The summit concluded with a recognition ceremony for longstanding partners of the Sustainable Tuna Program. Honorees included national government agencies like the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD SLP). Key financing partners such as Deliberate Capital, LLC, EY GDS, and BPI Foundation were among the awardees. Community organizations and government units such as the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro and the Municipality of Sablayan rounded up the event’s honorees.
“As we celebrate these accomplishments, we reaffirm our commitment, not only to the goals we’ve set, but to the relationships we’ve built along the way,” said WWF Executive Director Katherine Custodio. “These connections across communities, institutions, and sectors form the foundation of real, lasting change. WWF-Philippines remains committed to walking alongside our partners, seeing this vision through, and pushing ever closer toward a future where our oceans are protected, our fisheries are sustainable, and our coastal communities are empowered and thriving.”

As Project Buhay nears completion in June 2025, it aims to leave behind a foundation of partnerships, tools, and community-driven practices. While challenges remain, the summit served as both a celebration and a reminder that sustainable fisheries are possible when communities, institutions, and industries work together.