RPOA-IUU secretariat attended the South China Seas Regional Exchange (SCS Rex) which was held in Manila, the Philippines, from 16 to 19 January 2024 in person. The primary objective was to promote sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region. During the event, RPOA-IUU secretariat was invited to deliver two consecutive sessions. First, RPOA-IUU secretariat presented general overview of the role and the progress of RPOA-IUU in promoting responsible fishing practices. Second, the RPOA-IUU secretariat highlighted the objective of sub-regional working groups of the Southern and Eastern of South China Seas and Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape (SESCS and SSS), including the future plan and activities.
During the first session, the RPOA-IUU secretariat outlined the tangible progress and effort made by countries throughout 2023. The progress included the proactive countrie’ effort in continuing the adoption, ratification, and implementation of regional and international instruments related to Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing (IUU), such as, UNFSA, UNCLOS, PSMA, FAO Compliance Agreement 1993, WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, Biodiversity and Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, 2012 Cape Town Agreement. The RPOA-IUU secretariat also demonstrated the particular points from the annual RPOA-IUU work plan which aligns with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM). They also underlined that one of the RPOA-IUU Work Plan items could enhance better data collection of fishery catch to prevent over-capacity and sustainability fish stock, under the RPOA-IUU Work Plan; Key Point 1 and 2.
In subsequent session, the RPOA-IUU secretariat shared insights from the RPOA-IUU sub-regional working groups and highlighted the vital role of sub-regional groups in fostering effective coordination and capacity-building and providing information-exchange platform, ranging from fisheries resources and management, MCS development, MCS market measurement, port monitoring system to vessels associated IUU fishing operating in respective sub-regional groups.
In conclusion, the RPOA-IUU secretariat addressed recommendation and a way forward to strengthen regional efforts to promote responsible fishing practices including combating IUU fishing. This includes integrating Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance as an integral part of EAFM and to establish a robust, low cost, and feasible data-sharing mechanism.
**This article is based on the RPOA-IUU secretariat’s perspective
