On November 25, 2024, the Regional Plan of Action to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RPOA-IUU), with the support of USAID SuFiA TS, convened the inaugural meeting of the […]
The 17th Coordination Committee Meeting of the Regional Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RPOA-IUU) was successfully held on 26–27 November 2024 in Makati, Philippines. Co-chaired by the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, the meeting brought together senior officials from 11 participating countries, regional experts, and international partners to strengthen collective efforts in combating IUU fishing and advancing sustainable fisheries management.
During the meeting, Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to responsible fishing and regional cooperation, while M. Eko Rudianto of the RPOA-IUU Secretariat reaffirmed the dedication to facilitating tailored initiatives to address regional challenges. Key outcomes included agreements to enhance data exchange for improved monitoring and enforcement, set priorities for 2024 focusing on promoting decent working conditions in the fishing sector and implementing a catch documentation scheme to ensure traceability, and strengthen partnerships with regional and international organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
The Secretariat extended its gratitude to the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for their exceptional hosting of the meeting and recognized the support from partners such as FAO, CSIRO, USAID, and SEAFDEC, among others. These collaborations were acknowledged as vital to the success of the RPOA-IUU’s initiatives.
The outcomes of this meeting reaffirmed the region’s commitment to sustainable fisheries and laid the groundwork for impactful initiatives in 2024. Moving forward, the RPOA-IUU Secretariat pledged continued support to participating countries and partners to combat IUU fishing, ensure food security, and safeguard the livelihoods of those dependent on fisheries.
The RPOA-IUU (Regional Plan of Action to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing) held its 1st Consultative Meeting on September 26, 2024, via the Zoom platform. This meeting served as an inter-sessional discussion before the scheduled RPOA-IUU Coordination Committee Meeting. The primary objective was to designate the Chair and Vice Chair of the Data Sharing Mechanism Working Group (WG DSM). The meeting was attended by representatives from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand.
RPOA-IUU 1st Consultative Meeting Read Post »
Today is marking the World Ocean Day! This annual event is a time to celebrate the vital role our oceans play in sustaining life on Earth. It’s also a moment to reflect on the urgent need to protect and preserve these vast and invaluable ecosystems. Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet’s surface and are home to an incredible diversity of life, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales. They regulate our climate, provide food for billions of people, and are essential for global trade and transportation.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) undermines marine conservation efforts and can cause an imbalance in environmental, economic, and social sectors. Recently, almost all countries around the world are aware of the harmful impacts of this irresponsible fishing practice and urge them to take appropriate action to address this emerging issue. The extensive efforts that have been made by each country are setting out national legislation, engaging with international partners, and implementing international instruments related to fisheries management and IUU eradication.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED FISHING Read Post »
The Regional Plan of Action to promote responsible fishing practices including combating IUU Fishing (RPOA-IUU) developing a newsletter to effectively communicate messages to the public regarding RPOA-IUU’s efforts in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region.
This forthcoming newsletter represents the inaugural volume and will encompass information about the newsletter itself and RPOA-IUU in its entirety. It is anticipated that this newsletter will reach the entire public, facilitating the dissemination of the RPOA-IUU message aimed at addressing the issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing within the region
The RPOA-IUU Newsletter January-March 2024 Read Post »
IUU fishing can take place in all capture fisheries. Efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks are undermined by IUU fishing, which can lead to the collapse of fisheries or can seriously impair efforts to rebuild fish stocks that have already been depleted. This may result in the loss of both short- and long-term social and economic opportunities and could have negative impacts on food security. The international organization emphasizes and implements activities relevant to combat IUU fishing such as the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Support Vessels; Global Information Exchange System (GIES) by FAO; ASEAN Roadmap on Combating IUU Fishing (2021–2025) which aims to enhance and strengthen collaborative efforts to combat IUU fishing in the region thereby improving fisheries management, sustaining fish resources, and optimizing the benefit of adopting responsible fishing practices.
The 16th Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU fishing in the Region (RPOA-IUU) Coordination Committee Meeting (CCM) was held in Dili, Timor-Leste, for two days from 26 to 27 October 2023 in hybrid mode.
The 16th RPOA-IUU Coordination Committee Meeting Read Post »
The 12th Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region (RPOA-IUU) Coordination Committee Meeting was conducted in Siem Reap-Cambodia, 26-28 November 2019
The 12th RPOA-IUU Coordination Committee Read Post »
