The Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for ASEAN Region Toward 2030, adopted in 2020 is considered as a framework for regional fisheries policy and priority actions to ensure sustainable development of fisheries and its contribution to food security in the region. Specifically, Resolution No.12 emphasizes the need to “strengthen knowledge, including local knowledge, and science-based development and management of fisheries by enhancing national capacity to collect, analyze and share fisheries data and information”; while Action Plan No. 6 outlines priority actions to “Enhance regional fisheries information systems and mechanisms to facilitate sharing, exchange and compilation of statistics and information required at the sub- regional and regional level, facilitating data analysis and exchange”.
Data harmonization is particularly important in facilitating the exchange and compilation of fisheries statistics at the regional and international levels. Since 1978, SEAFDEC has carried out initiatives to compile fisheries statistics from member states that bordering in Bien Dong. Therefore, SEAFDEC has developed the “Regional Framework for Fisheries Statistical of Southeast Asia” which includes standard definitions and classifications in harmony with international standards; areas of coverage and statistical usage consistent with SEAFDEC's areas of competence. This framework has been adopted by the SEAFDEC Council and applied to the fisheries statistics of ASEAN member states since 2008.
However, after 2008, new fisheries statistical standards were developed by the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP). In August 2017, SEAFDEC held a “Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on Fisheries Information and Statistics in Southeast Asia” to update Southeast Asian countries on the changes to the CWP on new global frameworks and standards related to fisheries statistics. At the 26th session of the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP) 2019, the participants agreed that after the adoption of the new CWP standards, SEAFDEC should hold a meeting among the members of the ASEAN Network on Fisheries Statistics to revise the Regional Framework. At the same time, proposed amendments related to fisheries trade statistics and seafood processing were also raised at this workshop. The proposed revision of the Regional Framework for Fisheries Statistics of Southeast Asia was adopted during the 52nd meeting of the SEAFDEC Council in 2020.
After the 1st Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on Fisheries Information and Statistics in Southeast Asia was held on September 21-22, 2021 through an online platform, the 2nd Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on Fisheries Information and Statistics in Southeast Asia of Southeast Asia Fisheries Information and Statistics was held from August 23 – 26, 2022 to exchange with ASEAN member states on the Regional Framework for Fisheries Statistics.
The aim of the 2nd RTC is to:
1. Follow up on the issues discussed at the 1st RTC on Fisheries Information and Statistics in Southeast Asia;
2. Discuss the revision of the Regional Framework for Fisheries Statistics in the following sections: 1) marine capture production, 2) inland capture production, 3) aquaculture, 4) fishers and fish farmers, and 5) producer prices;
3. Discussion of the fisheries statistical questionnaires (for the parts indicated in Objective 2), and the possibility of sharing the questionnaire(s) with FAO, as applicable;
4. Determine the availability of data items, the possibilities and the difficulties that ASEAN countries may face in reporting fisheries statistics (for the parts indicated in Goal 2).
Huong Tra