SEAFDEC joins virtual Eighteenth Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade

SEAFDEC was invited to attend virtually the 18^th Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries (18COFI:FT) which was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 7–9 and 20 June 2022. The 18COFI:FT was attended by over 180 participants including delegates from FAO members and observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations . The 18COFI:FT provided the forum for the member countries to review the progress of works of FAO and member nations related to international trade of fish and fishery products as well as to provide guidance to FAO for future work priorities. During the plenary sessions, FAO presented a number of topics i.e. recent trends in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, food safety and quality of fisheries and aquaculture products, and update on FAO work on traceability under the Voluntary Guidelines for Catch Documentation Schemes and on scoping paper and future developments on social responsibility.

In line with the agenda of the 18COFI:FT, SEAFDEC has several ongoing regional programs and initiatives that support the ASEAN Member States to address global and emerging issues such as combating IUU fishing and traceability system, safety of fish and fishery products, small-scale fisheries and market access, fisheries subsidies, CITES, and others.