DIRECTORATE OF FISHERIES

ASEAN member countries together with regional and international partners such as FAO, SEAFDEC, NACA, JICA, EU, E-READI, Australia, etc. have frankly exchanged information, discussed and agreed on issues on fisheries cooperation and development in Southeast Asia region, contributing significantly to the sustainable development of fisheries, ensuring food security in the region and for ASEAN economic community.

For the 9th ASA, the participants agreed to take steps to assess the ASEAN Shrimp GAP system and study the establishment of the ASEAN Certification System to promote members countries to apply the ASEAN Shrimp GAP system as well as allow this system to be recognized by the international market. Along with that, the countries attending the meeting also agreed that the issue of information exchange, research cooperation and improvement of shrimp farming in the region should be discussed based on the interests and common interests of the ASEAN Members States. In addition, to re-launch the website of the ASEAN Shrimp Alliance, participants agreed to update information on feed, disease, shrimp farming information, international market information (tariffs barriers) as well as scientific and technical research results related to farmed shrimp. In addition, the website will also be a place for researchers to publish their research related to farmed shrimp products, while also creating channels for information exchange for interested people. The link to the website will be shared widely through regional and international fisheries organizations such as NACA, SEAFDEC, etc. For the disease problem of farmed shrimp in the region, the participants of the Meeting agreed that information will be shared and updated through the mechanism of NACA and ANAAHC.

At the 11th AFCF, participants were informed of the proposed process to assess the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Fishing Capacity (RPOA - Fishing Capacity) as well as the results of the Small – Scale Fisheries Guidelines of FAO (FAO SSF Guidelines) implemented by ASEAN member states and regional and international fisheries organizations. For the protection and regeneration of fisheries resources, at the Forum, delegates exchanged and discussed information and results obtained from the conservation and development of fisheries resources being obtained from the country, organization and implementation as well as the efforts of member countries in maintaining and developing livelihoods for fishermen as well as protecting endangered aquatic species. Regarding climate change response, Vietnam has proposed to organize a consultation workshop on the impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture in order to develop a Guideline on impacts of climate change to Fisheries and Aquaculture. In particular, on the issue of combating Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, ASEAN Member States have been informed about the process of implementing the Regional Action Plan against IUU fishing (RPOA-IUU), as well as assisting members countries in ratifying and implementing FAO's Port State Measures (PSMA) and developing a National Action Plan against IUU fishing (NPOA-IUU), enforcing management measures to combat IUU fishing, unify cooperation among member states to combat IUU fishing through information exchange and transparency mechanisms. Regarding the content of seafood product traceability, the Forum has been informed about the efforts that member countries have achieved in the deployment of fisheries product traceability systems from exploitation and Good Aquaculture Practice certification (GAPs) as well as seafood product quality control programs.

The 27th ASWGFi has adopted important guidelines on regional fisheries development in the period of 2019-2020. In particular, ASEAN member states agreed on the policy of establishing an ASEAN Network for Combating IUU (AN-IUU) with the main objective is to share information and improve management capacity and combat illegal fishing for member countries. At the same time, ASEAN's general fisheries policy is also agreed on a feasibility study meeting aimed at strengthening joint efforts towards sustainable, responsible fisheries and ensuring food security in the region. Besides, the meeting also actively discussed and agreed to implement issues related to other important issues of the region on sustainable fisheries development, strengthening the ability to integrate with world fisheries, food security and climate change adaptation, etc. The meeting also discussed with regional and national representatives such as EU, Australia, JICA, etc. and international and regional organizations to increase strengthen cooperation, support the implementation of combating IUU fishing in Southeast Asia.

Huong Tra