RPOA-IUU and CTI CFF Collaborate on USAID Sustainable Coral Triangle Program

On May 20, 2024, the RPOA-IUU Secretariat held a pivotal meeting with the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) to explore potential collaboration under the USAID Sustainable Coral Triangle program. The meeting was opened by Mr. M. Eko Rudianto, Vice Executive Director of the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, and attended by key representatives including Chris Rotinsulu, Hanung Rotinsulu, Reita Kalalo, Frank Griffin, Anjum Islam, and Dave Senewe from the CTI-CFF team. Also in attendance were Andri Purba, Program Officer of the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, and other staff members. This important gathering took place at the Satgas Meeting Room on the 14th floor of GMB IV MMAF.

The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the initiation of a collaborative effort between RPOA-IUU and CTI-CFF, particularly within the framework of the USAID Sustainable Coral Triangle program. The discussions were fruitful, revealing several key points and potential areas for cooperation.

One of the significant outcomes was the reaffirmation of commitment from various countries to the project during the last CTI CFF Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). This project, which receives support from USAID RDMA, is set to run from December 2023 to November 2028. It encompasses various activities aimed at combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF). The hope is that these activities can be carried out in collaboration with RPOA-IUU, with a focus on regional implementation.

Among the collaborative activities identified were the IUU Fishing Index Assessment, the Assessment of RPOA/NPOA IUU Fishing implementation, and efforts to strengthen the data center and establish data validation. However, it was noted that the implementation of the IUU Fishing Index Assessment should be approached with caution. A previous study conducted by RPOA-IUU on the IUU Fishing Index with the Stimson Center had faced challenges due to the sensitivity of the topic among countries.

The Assessment of RPOA/NPOA IUU Fishing implementation aligns well with RPOA-IUU’s plan to revitalize its core elements, marking it as a major activity within the organization. In terms of data-sharing activities, RPOA-IUU is planning initiatives that could be potentially collaborated on with CTI CFF. This collaboration would start with CTI CFF member countries and could serve as a catalyst for other RPOA-IUU countries to establish a data-sharing mechanism.

RPOA-IUU also expressed enthusiasm for conducting this collaboration jointly with other regional organizations such as SEAFDEC. This approach aims to avoid duplication of efforts in the region. However, a noted challenge to this collaboration is the different focal points from each country for each organization, which can impede communication flow.

To ensure ongoing progress, the RPOA-IUU Secretariat and CTI CFF agreed to hold regular meetings to communicate the activities of each organization. Additionally, they will further discuss and identify specific activities that can be collaborated on.