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.
We are thrilled to announce the release of Newsletter Edition 3 (July – September 2024) from the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, highlighting significant developments in our ongoing efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The RPOA-IUU Newsletter July – September 2024 Read Post »
The Indonesian public was surprised by the apprehension of an Indonesian fish carrier vessel, MV M.U.S., by the Fisheries Surveillance Vessel Orca 06 in the Arafura Sea just after Indonesian Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr earlier this year.
The End of Run Zeng 03 Saga with Strong Cooperation and Information Sharing Read Post »
In the 2024 RPOA-IUU Workplan point 3.1, stated that RPOA-IUU Secretariat has to coordinate with the FAO for the possibility of presenting a report at the COFI session in 2024. COFI is a body under the FAO Council that meets once every two years and is responsible for discussing various issues, developments, and challenges related to the global fisheries and aquaculture sector. COFI 36 was held in person at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, from July 8-12, 2024. During the session, there was a dedicated agenda item, Agenda 8, focusing on IUU Fishing. This agenda was intended to discuss FAO’s priorities in combating IUU Fishing.
The RPOA-IUU Secretariat was invited to the 16th ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Forum (AFCF) meeting held on July 2, 2024, in Penang, Malaysia. During the meeting, the RPOA-IUU Secretariat extensively discussed their multifaceted approach to combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, detailing the substantial progress on a regional data-sharing mechanism designed to enhance coordination and information exchange among member countries. RPOA-IUU member countries present at the AFCF meeting expressed positive responses to the presentation given by the RPOA-IUU secretariat.
Program Priority 2024-2025 RPOA-IUU Read Post »
We are thrilled to announce the release of Newsletter edition 2 (April – June) from the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, highlighting significant developments in our ongoing efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The RPOA-IUU Newsletter April – June 2024 Read Post »
The RPOA-IUU Secretariat was honored to receive an invitation to contribute as a speakers in “A Workshop for Fisheries Enforcement Strategies to Prevent, Combat, and Deter IUU Fishing Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” which was held in Serpong from 15 to 16 November 2023
