The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) concluded the four-day 56th Council meeting on May 9, 2024, with a focus on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and ensuring the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in Southeast Asia.
Held in Tagaytay City through the invitation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the council acknowledged the ongoing efforts to combat IUU fishing and the progress made by SEAFDEC initiatives like the Regional Fishing Vessels Record (RFVR) Database, electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme (eACDS), and improved national capacities in port State measures (PSM).
SEAFDEC was commended for its preliminary results on stock assessments of Indo-Pacific king mackerel and narrow-barred Spanish mackerel. The council recommended further discussions among ASEAN member states before endorsing the final results to ensure holistic management of these commercially important species.
The council alnso approved the revised “Regional Framework for Fishery Statistics of Southeast Asia (2024 Edition)” for implementation by SEAFDEC in compiling regional data starting in 2024. The improved framework is expected to enhance data collection and analysis.
The council recognized SEAFDEC’s crucial role in supporting member countries in responding to proposals for listing commercially exploited aquatic species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
It also urged SEAFDEC to continue capacity building activities to address challenges faced by member states, such as species identification and traceability.
SEAFDEC is expected to come up with updated information to support member countries in implementing global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, BBNJ Treaty, OECMs and the new plastic pollution instrument for marine conservation.