Approaches to address gaps in international fisheries-related issues plotted during June RTC

SEAFDEC organized the Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on International Fisheries-related Issues on 20-22 June 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand to come up with the regional approaches in addressing the major gaps in the international fisheries-related issues that tend to impede the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the Southeast Asian region. The RTC was also meant to discuss the regional approaches that could be raised to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) during its 33^rd Session on 9-13 July 2018. In addition to the representatives from the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries as well as from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), and senior officers from SEAFDEC Secretariat and Departments, an Expert from Japan NUS Co. Ltd. also took part in the RTC as the Resource Person. The representative from the Viet Nam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung was unanimously elected as Chairperson of the RTC. During the discussion of the identified major gaps related to international fisheries-related concerns, the RTC came up with recommendations that need action by the ASEAN Member States at national level, recommendations that need regional action more particularly by SEAFDEC, and those that need international action mostly directed to FAO; and agreed on the views that would be reflected by the AMSs and SEAFDEC during the 33^rd COFI. Moreover, the RTC also agreed that the adopted recommendations and views would be submitted to the SEAFDEC Council for consideration ad referendum and to the higher authorities of the ASEAN for endorsement.