The report of the second regional technical consultation on the development of the Regional Action Plan for Fishing Capacity Management (RPOA Capacity), Phuket Province, Thailand, December 15-17, 2015, was prepared by the Secretariat of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). The document will be distributed to meeting participants, SEAFDEC Member States, SEAFDEC departments and relevant institutions. Report of the Second Regional Technical Consultation on the Development of the Regional Action Plan for Fishing Capacity Management (RPOA Capacity), Phuket Province, Thailand, 15-17 December 2015, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
BACKGROUND AND OPENING OF THE CONSULTATION
INTRODUCTION, ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENT OF
UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE ZERO DRAFT OF RPOA-CAPACITY
He then described the initial draft of the RPOA capability comprising four parts: Part 1 Introduction; Part 2 Aims and Objectives; Part 3 Guiding principle; and Part 4 Action plan for management of fishing capacity. He urged the RTC to consider and accordingly improve the Zero Draft keeping in mind its applicability in the Southeast Asian region. Somboon clarified that the content of RPOA-Capacity is in accordance with the International Action Plan for the Management of Fishing Capacity (1999).
The role of SEAFDEC is to facilitate the development of RPOA capacity to support regional and sub-regional cooperation in fisheries resource management and to assist those countries that have not yet developed their respective NPOA capacity. He also explained that it is for this reason that the template for the development of NPOA Capacity will also be discussed during the RTC. In addition, the difference between NPOA-Capacity and NPOA-IUU was clarified, although both NPOAs are intended to complement each other.
While the NPOA-IUU provides good regulation to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, NPOA-Capacity provides appropriate management of the national fishing resources. Furthermore, he also explained that the development of RPOA capacity initiated by SEAFDEC was presented to the Council and subsequently supported during its 47th Meeting.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FINAL DRAFT OF RPOA-CAPACITY
FINALIZATION OF THE DRAFT RPOA-CAPACITY
DISCUSSION ON THE GUIDELINES AND/OR TEMPLATE FOR
CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD
Although SEAFDEC could address such a concern, in response it is imperative that countries first have their own fisheries management plans, as this includes the management of fishing capacity. Nevertheless, SEAFDEC could consider providing technical assistance to countries that have not yet developed their national fisheries management plans. Regarding the development of strategies going forward, the RTC was informed of the 2015 High Level Consultation on Sustainable Fisheries Development towards the ASEAN Economic Community to be organized by SEAFDEC in August 2016.
Such consultation will focus on the efforts of the Southeast Asian countries to combat IUU fishing in order to achieve sustainable fisheries. Somboon explained that Stakeholders' consultation will be organized by SEAFDEC and that a Drafting Committee will be formed to develop the preliminary draft of the Joint Declaration on Regional Fisheries Cooperation towards the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. The Joint Declaration is intended to clarify the future direction. and role of SEAFDEC and the ASEAN Member States in enhancing regional cooperation to address regional issues towards sustainable development of fisheries in the light of ASEAN community building.
Somboon informed the meeting that the draft RPOA Capability and NPOA Capability Development Template would be presented for approval at the 48th SEAFDEC Council Meeting to be organized in April 2016, Vietnam as well as for approval at the 24th ASEAN sector meeting. Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) scheduled for June 2016.
CLOSING OF THE CONSULTATION
It is indeed an honor for me and for SEAFDEC to welcome you all to this second regional technical consultation on the development of the Regional Action Plan for the Management of Fishing Capacity or RPOA Capacity in this beautiful island of Phuket, the largest island of Thailand also known like the Pearl of the Andamans. We are all aware of the importance of managing fishing capacity, which requires matching fishing effort with available natural resources. It is in response to member states' request that since 2006, SEAFDEC has organized expert hearings and regional technical hearings that highlight the critical importance of addressing the management of fishing capacity in Southeast Asia.
Such efforts by SEAFDEC aim to promote reduction of pressure on available stocks, mitigate conflicts over the resources and promote sustainability for people who depend on the fishery resources. It should be recalled that Malaysia is a lead country for the cluster on "Promoting Sustainable Fishing Practices - Fishing Capacity and Responsible Fishing Practices". Based on such a scenario, and to meet the request of the other Member States for assistance in the development of their respective NPOA capacity, it has become necessary to develop a regional action plan for the management of the fishing capacity to serve as a guide for the management of fishing capacity in the ASEAN perspective.
Therefore, SEAFDEC in collaboration with DOF Malaysia organized the first Regional Technical Consultation on Development of a Regional Action Plan – Fisheries Capacity Management in February this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The said RTC identified the key issues in fisheries capacity management, including practical measures and useful measures to be considered in the process of developing the RPOA capacity. The RTC also suggested that an expert group should be formed and consulted during the drafting of the RPOA capacity before it is circulated to member states for comment and consideration.
Subsequently, the “Experts Group Meeting on Development of Regional Plan of Action for Managing Fishing Capacity” was organized in August 2015 in Songkhla, Thailand. The Experts Group Meeting came up with the Zero Draft of the RPOA-Capacity, which has been submitted to the ASEAN Member States for consideration. This Second RTC is therefore organized to serve as a way to share efforts and experiences, as well as to discuss, develop and finalize the design of the RPOA Capacity before submitting it to the Council for approval and the higher authorities of ASEAN.
During this three-day consultation, we should be able to update the zero concept of RPOA Capacity to serve as a basis for discussing the options and relevance to develop specific sub-regional plans of action. Since the task ahead of us is rather enormous, I would like to request the participants to be actively involved in the discussions and provide input so that this Consultation can reach fruitful results.
