SEAFDEC participates in the Third ASEAN Meeting on Combating IUU Fishing in Partnership with the EU

The Third ASEAN Meeting on Combating IUU Fishing in Partnership with the EU was convened virtually by the ASEAN Secretariat in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Thailand on 23-24 February 2021. The Meeting was attended by the representatives from the ASEAN Member States (AMSs), EU, RPOA-IUU, and SEAFDEC. The Meeting focused on the updates on the implementation to combat IUU fishing by the AMSs and partners. In addition, the Meeting discussed the updates on the establishment of ASEAN network for combating IUU fishing and the online communication platform as developed by Thailand.

The representatives from SEAFDEC, led by Ms. Malinee Smithrithee, Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, as well as officials from SEAFDEC Secretariat and TD attended the Meeting. In this occasion, SEAFDEC made the presentation on SEAFDEC activities on combating IUU fishing during 2020–2021 .SEAFDEC informed the Meeting on the new Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030 wherein the Resolution No. 8 specified “Strengthen cooperation among AMSs and with international and regional organizations in combating IUU fishing and management of fishing capacity to balance available resources.” SEAFDEC also presented the progress on the implementation of the three regional initiatives related to IUU fishing including the ASEAN Guidelines to Prevent the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing into the Supply Chain, Regional Fishing Vessel Record, and ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme.