COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL SYSTEM OF FISHERIES REFUGIA

The development of a collaborative programme of technical consultations, working group meetings, and training workshops, aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts to establish a regional system of fisheries refugia, was discussed with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) during August 2006. In this connection, all members of the UNEP/GEF Regional Working Group on Fisheries (RWG-F) participated in SEAFDEC’s Regional Technical Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity and Human Resource Development in Support of Fisheries Management in Southeast Asia from 19th-22nd September in Phuket, Thailand.

This was an important step in promoting the refugia concept amongst SEAFDEC member countries. It also provided members of the RWG-F with an opportunity to share their experiences in the use of the fisheries refugia concept to address the problem of over-fishing in the region. Several fisheries focal points also participated in SEAFDEC country consultations to promote the refugia concept and work of the group. To assist in the identification of important spawning areas, the RWG-F and SEAFDEC have agreed to develop a joint programme of work to improve the use of data collected from SEAFDEC research cruises in activities to identify and monitor fisheries refugia.

SEAFDEC is an autonomous intergovernmental body established as a regional treaty organization in 1967 to promote fisheries development in Southeast Asia. SEAFDEC aims specifically to develop sustainable fisheries in the region through training, research, and information services. It also aims to improve the food security in Southeast Asia by development of effective fisheries management. Its services cover the broad areas of fishing gear technology, marine engineering, fishing ground surveys and stock assessment, post-harvest technology as well as development and improvement of aquaculture techniques. SEAFDEC is currently made up of 11 Member Countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. SEAFDEC also has a fleet of sophisticated fisheries research vessels, fully equipped to conduct surveys in support of the fisheries refugia activity of the South China Sea Project.