Transshipment
The Davao Fish Port Complex is the only port in the country that is authorized to provide transshipment services to foreign fishing vessels. This was legitimized by the Memorandum of Agreement signed by several government agencies like the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Bureau of Immigration among others in 1995.
The Davao Fish Port Complex (DFPC) serves as a vital transshipment hub for the international tuna industry. Transshipment is the process by which fish caught by foreign fishing vessels are unloaded, cleaned, graded, packed, and prepared for shipment to international markets. This activity is authorized under Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
As one of the country’s premier fish ports, DFPC regularly accommodates Japanese and Taiwanese fishing vessels that unload their tuna catch for transshipment to major auction markets in Japan, the United States, and other international destinations.
Driving Economic Growth and Employment
Beyond facilitating international trade, transshipment operations contribute significantly to the local economy. The presence of DFPC has encouraged the growth of fishery-related enterprises and created employment opportunities for many families in Davao City and neighboring communities.
Businesses that have benefited from DFPC’s operations include:
- Marine products processing
- Frozen bait supply
- Live bangus trading
- Fingerling and bait supply
- Food chandling services
- Cargo trucking and logistics
- Food vending enterprises
- Tuna by-products trading and processing
Strengthening Allied Industries
Beyond fishery-based enterprises, DFPC’s transshipment activities contribute significantly to the growth of allied industries, including:
- Trucking and logistics services
- Ice plants and cold storage facilities
- Packaging materials manufacturing
- Air freight forwarding services
- Fuel supply and hauling operations
- Seafood processing and export businesses
Supporting the Fisheries Industry in Region XI
Transshipment operations also help strengthen the fisheries sector in Region XI by providing additional raw materials for local tuna processing and canning factories. This steady supply supports production, generates employment, and contributes to the continued growth of the region’s seafood industry.
Today, the Davao Fish Port Complex remains a key hub for international fisheries trade, helping connect local industries to global markets while creating economic opportunities and supporting the development of coastal communities.
