Summary of output achieved during and first quarter of 2009 recorded by output group under the SEAFDEC-Sida Cooperative Programme: Extension to June 2009 was prepared by the Secretariat of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO-RAP FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. SEAFDEC-SEC-OPPC SEAFDEC-SEC Office of the Policy and Program Coordinator SEAFDEC-AQD SEAFDEC-Aquaculture Division.
Recognizing the importance of fisheries to poor coastal communities among ASEAN and SEAFDEC member countries and recognizing the threats these communities face due to overfishing and environmental degradation, SEAFDEC has been able to promote dialogue among countries to be more active in search of common solutions. With input from this meeting, SOM-AMAF was able to decide in October 2008 on changes to the ToR for ASWGFi and on the establishment of an ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Forum (AFCF). A general effort in the implementation process is to support trends in the region to conclude agreements between ASEAN-SEAFDEC member countries on.
The project was also active in the process of studying the "rights" of fishermen together with partners in the region. This document provides a brief summary or highlight of the results achieved over the extended period against each of the “output groups” namely:.
Promote Establishment of Regional Fisheries Management Body
The promotion of sub-regional cooperation is off to a good start in the Gulf of Thailand, where the integration of fisheries and habitat management has become central, and ways to cooperate with transboundary fishery resource conservation areas are being explored with the Gulf of Thailand countries. In addressing fishing capacity, the project was instrumental in providing a space for countries to agree on the steps to be taken to better coordinate registration efforts and to begin preparing the means to establish a 'Vessel Record and Inventory'. The project was central to raising awareness among Member States of the fact that there will be increasing requirements for environmental and social performance certification.
Based on local knowledge and traditional practices, the project has supported a process in Cambodia to look at the role of women in fishing. An elaborate matrix-based summary of the results achieved for the first quarter of 2009, referring to the activities planned for each product group can be found in Annexes 1a and 1b.
Integrate Habitat Management and Fisheries Management
Incentive for Sustainable Fishing/Eco-labels
Size and Structure Large-scale Fisheries and
Monitor and Record Coastal Fisheries
Local Knowledge and Safety at Sea
Project Management and Coordination
During the "Special SOM-AMAF" in August 2008, further steps were taken and "The Assembly noted that the additional TOR would require national inter-agency coordination and consultation before finalizing such a proposal. During a workshop on Monitoring, Control and Supervision (MCS) (March 2008) and Coordination Committee (April 2008) were recognized for the initiatives on vessel registration and the promotion of sub-regional arrangements in the Gulf of Thailand.In the context of the Gulf of Thailand, there is also the involvement of Malaysia and the inclusion of the fisheries component of the UNEP/GEF South China Sea project.
The possibility of expanding the concept in a wider cooperation in the Gulf of Thailand (following the meeting in the Gulf of Thailand mentioned above) will be explored - the work will maintain links with some aspects mentioned in the RPOA-IUU. Another indicator would be the availability of a set of maps on the management areas in the Gulf of Thailand. In multi-species fishing, like most tropical small-scale fisheries, there is also the problem of bycatch, as bycatch is not the main problem as you target what you get, so all fish caught are part of the "catch".
Tonggol Tuna in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (this product was added after a SEAFDEC/Sida seminar in January 2009). The SEAFDEC-Sida interventions also lead directly to the organization of the meeting in the Gulf of Thailand referred to above. Cooperation with FAO/APFIC, ASEAN and RPOA-IUU will be maintained and developed in the process.
Identified critical element is the certification body and the role of the government in the institution. Common objectives and similar activities to those of the SEAFDEC-Sida project are there in the RPOA. It was agreed that coordination with the SEAFDEC and the SEAFDEC-Sida projects should be strengthened in the development of the RPOA IUU.
A background paper and map has been prepared on the status of maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Thailand and presented to the Second Gulf of Thailand Meeting. A general goal will also be to promote regional cooperation and fisheries and habitat management in the Gulf of Thailand. UNEP/GEF introduces transboundary cooperation on specific habitats in the Gulf of Thailand.
In particular, monitor the UNEP/GEF database for project completion by the end of 2008. This was further discussed at the second meeting in the Gulf of Thailand (February 2009), which, in confirmation of regional importance, also included recommendations to explore the possibility of establishing a sanctuary or management area for Pla too and related species in the Gulf of Thailand (to be continued as additional resources become available). UNEP/GEF on how to build on the agreements to be followed with each of the Gulf of Thailand countries.
In preparation for the second Gulf of Thailand meeting, the project (internet) reviewed information on cross-border landings in order to monitor "non-national" landings and cross-border landings - the result was "fairly" limited and there are mostly reports about fishermen being caught rather than a systematic review.
