Tuna fishing ban in high seas lifted

The Western and Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC) haspartially lifted a two-year tuna fishing ban that is expected to helpPhilippine tuna production bounce back, the Department of Agriculture said onWednesday.

The development came about with the work of the Philippineinter-agency delegation, which proposed a Special Management Area in the HighSeas Pocket 1, reports the ChicagoTribune.

Tuna production in the country dropped to 503,000 metrictons last year from 575,000 metric tons in 2010, the newspaper said.

The ban was originally imposed in January of 2010 to protectthe remaining population of yellow fin and big eye tuna in certain pockets ofthe high seas in the Pacific Ocean.

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