Report of the First Technical Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries Management between Cambodia and Vietnam. Report on the First Technical Meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Fisheries Management Working Group, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 5-7 March 2014, prepared by the Secretariat of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). The document is distributed to meeting participants, SEAFDEC Member States, SEAFDEC Divisions and relevant institutions.
Report of the First Technical Meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Working Group on Fisheries Management, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 5-7 March 2014, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre.
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, OBJECTIVES AND ADOPTION AGENDA OF
FINALIZATION OF THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA)
STATUS OF FISHERIES RESOURCES
According to him, Cambodia has a policy on banning the fishing of short and Indian mackerel during the period from January 15 to March 31 of the year. He presented the scope of his initial research into the resources and began the fishing effort. The number of fishing vessels operating in Kien Giang began to decline in 2013, while the combined horsepower continued to increase.
The average fishing productivity of Kien Giang fishery decreased slightly in the same year (2013). According to him, the fishing season of Rastrelliger sp. mackerel) is from September to March of next year. He also said that mackerel in the traditional fishing grounds in Phu Quoc accounts for 70-80% of the total catch of mackerel purse seine vessels, while the remaining catches are sardines and others.
He also added information about the anchovy fishery which is very popular for making fish sauce. To provide further information, it was suggested that studies should be carried out on physio-chemical, larval and egg distribution including stock assessment of the target species in specified study areas and neighboring waters.
COUNTRY REVIEWS BASED ON COMPONENTS UNDER MOA
Tran Van Luan, the representative from Vietnam presented an update on Vietnam's latest national fisheries legislation. He informed the meeting about the marine research programs in the transboundary waters of the southwestern part of Vietnam in the provinces of Kien Giang (Vietnam) bordering Kampot (Cambodia) in 2000-2006 and 2011-2015. He pointed to the status of important transboundary species such as anchovy, blue swimmer crab and mackerel.
Based on the findings of surveys of blue swimming crab in Kien Giang province, he also informed that a release program for. Heng Sotharith, Deputy Director of Department of Fisheries (Cambodia) briefed the Assembly on the current status and numbers of sea fishing vessels/boats in Cambodia. A clarification was asked about the renewal of the license which must be issued to the fishing boat owner by January 1 or by New Year each year.
Tran Van Luan, the representative from the Department of Capture Fisheries and Resource Protection of Vietnam gave an update on the status of fishing vessels and production levels in Kien Giang Province. There are currently 3,000 VMS units installed in fishing vessels, but a concern raised by the meeting was how often the fishermen send data and position to the main base to provide information on the vessel's location and the catch per hour. day.
GROUP DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION ON THE WORKPLAN FOR THE
He further assessed the national legal and policy framework and international fisheries policy instruments for sustainable development in Vietnam. The regulations include a fishing zoning system, vessel marking and a logging system to control and minimize illegal fishing in the country. He also presented Vietnam's Ship Monitoring System (VMS) installed on industrial vessels fishing at sea.
The purpose is to monitor the actual position of fishing vessels and for search and rescue in case of emergency. He also discussed some strategies to combat illegal and destructive fishing practices such as cyanide and explosive fishing. Luan replied that they are monitoring the vessels and they are required to send information about their position every two (2) hours, including catch information on fish species and weight.
Raja Bidin stated that fishermen sometimes turn off the VMS system because they do not want the vessel to be tracked. Therefore, he suggested that countries should develop a clear regulation or law on the use of VMS and include a provision imposing higher penalties than usual so that they can follow the regulations and use the system.
SUMMARY AND WAY FORWARD
In this regard, SEAFDEC is requested to provide technical input for the countries to develop the format. The Assembly noted that the next meeting would be in Cambodia during August or September 2014 (6 months after this Assembly). Compile available data and information, together with additional surveys including information on mackerel breeding areas; and.
- raising laws and regulations including organizing seminars/training events on the legal framework in Cambodia (Kep, Kampot, Sihanouville) and Vietnam (Ha Tien, Phu Quoc, Kien Luong), (to be implemented before the next meeting – August / September 2014). The meeting also agreed that the agenda of the next meeting will be based on the MoU components, namely: However, the proposed agenda will be circulated for feedback from both countries before the Meeting.
CLOSING OF THE MEETING
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This event is organized as a direct follow-up to the Joint Fisheries Management Round Table Discussion Meeting between Cambodia and Vietnam that was held side by side with the 4th Gulf of Thailand Meeting on 17 December 2013 in Bangkok. The meeting in December 2013 also agreed to develop an MOA under the MoU signed between the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kingdom of Cambodia and the Directorate of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Development of Vietnam on 28 December 2011 The meeting agreed on the establishment of a "Joint Committee" to support the implementation of the MoU.
As part of the initial set of planned activities, the 1st Joint Committee Meeting should be held in March 2014. The 1st Committee Meeting would discuss and finalize the (zero draft) MOA and produce a detailed plan of activities for the next coming year(s). The committee meeting will be held in parallel with a workshop to review and exchange information on the relevant laws and regulations applicable to each of the countries (as one of the priority actions listed at the round table on 17 December 2013).
A detailed work plan for implementation under this MOA, as well as a mechanism for the two countries to cooperate on the establishment of the MOA, would also be discussed and agreed. The first meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Committee on Fisheries Management will be organized from March 5 to 7, 2014 in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
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Lessons learned from each country (experiences) to improve current practices. Improvement/synergy of registration. To improve knowledge and bring about positive changes in fishermen's attitudes and practices. Safety at sea *Training.
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Illegal fishing activities and use of illegal and destructive fishing gear Link to 7 and 26 including application of national laws. Activities to be coordinated on other points Link to 7 and 26 applications of national laws 10. Workshop to initiate a process for collecting habitat data and data on endangered species, including information sharing between Cam and Vie.
Status and degree of degradation of critical habitat and Insufficient data on endangered species (dugong, sea turtle, dolphin). Conduct joint study/research to improve habitat data and threatened species data in areas of common interest to Cam and Vie. 2 Med Med Identifying critical habitats and stopping degradation by demarcating (zoning) habitats, including markings to show the specific boundaries of the protected area.
Sharing of information and experiences about registration and licensing process between Cam and Vie - Joint workshops, - Cross-site visits (moved from old 22). Check with TD, FAO and others - link to efforts to compare laws Link with 1, 7 and 26 comparison. Overfishing in near-shore areas in combination with illegal (invasive) and destructive fishing Involve local and provincial fisheries departments in Cam and Vie.
Consultative workshop between fisheries and relevant agencies in Cam and Vie to formulate joint management plans.
