Sustainable Fishing

RPOA-IUU, in collaboration with the USAID SuFia TS, organized the Focus Group Discussions (FGD) on Market Measures and Traceability on September 9-10, 2024 in virtual format. The discussions were attended by representatives from seven of the eleven RPOA-IUU participating countries: Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam.

Regional Plan of Action for Responsible Fisheries including Combatting IUU Fishing (RPOA-IUU) is a voluntary regional initiative which agreed on 4 May 2007, Bali-Indonesia, by 11 Ministers related to fisheries namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Viet Nam. Each participating Countries have role on the implementation, as the commitment on responsible fishing practices including combating IUU Fishing. This regional cooperation is implemented through the implementation of 10 core elements, which essentially depend on sharing data and information between RPOA-IUU participating countries and/or with international and regional institutions.

The RPOA-IUU Secretariat was invited to the 4th Regional Workshop of the ASEAN Network IUU meeting, held on July 17-18, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. The ASEAN Network IUU workshop is a strategic avenue aiming to promote the partnership and strengthen regional capacities and capabilities in combating IUU fishing. The meeting was attended by representatives from ASEAN countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as an official observer to ASEAN, Timor-Leste.

On July 2, 2024, the RPOA-IUU Secretariat had the honor of participating in the 16th ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Forum (AFCF) in Penang, Malaysia. This gathering brought together member countries to discuss and share updates on key issues critical to the sustainability of regional fisheries. Topics included 1). Fishing Capacity and Zoning System, 2). Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, 3). Resource Rehabilitation and Enhancement, 4). Impacts of Climate Change on Fisheries and Aquaculture, 5).Combating IUU Fishing, 6) Traceability of Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, dan 8). US Marine Mammals Protection Act.

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.