SEAFDEC Strategies

Recognizing that provisions in various international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG, 2015), the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF, 1995), and relevant International Plans of Action are crucial for the development of programs and activities towards enhancing the practices for sustainable fisheries development in the Southeast Asian region;

Affirming the need to implement actions in line with regional fisheries policy frameworks, particularly the Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region adopted by the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for fisheries during the ASEANSEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2020 “Fish for the People 2020: Adaptation to a Changing Environment” in June 2011;

Also affirming the need to support the Member Countries of SEAFDEC in the implementation of regional guidelines and policy recommendations developed by the SEAFDEC in collaboration with the Member Countries;

Bearing in mind the need to enhance cooperation with ASEAN under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (ASSP) framework, support the implementation of activities under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group (FCG) mechanism, and take into consideration the “Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Fisheries (2016-2020)”; and

Recognizing the need for SEAFDEC to continue playing an active role in enhancing the collaboration among the Member Countries, as well as partnerships with prominent regional, international organizations and donor agencies towards the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the Southeast Asian region;

Being aware of the fact that regional guidelines and policy recommendations and frameworks developed under different organizations, mechanisms and arrangements beyond Southeast Asian region need to be taken into account; and

Resolved to adopt the Vision, Mission, and Strategies of SEAFDEC towards 2030, as follows:

VISION
“Sustainable management and development of fisheries and aquaculture to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the Southeast Asian region”

MISSION
“To promote and facilitate concerted actions among the Member Countries to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in Southeast Asia” through:

i. Research and development in fisheries, aquaculture, post harvest, processing, marketing of fish and fishery products, socio-economics, and the ecosystem to provide reliable scientific data and information.
ii. Formulation and provision of policy guidelines based on the available scientific data and information, local knowledge, regional consultations and prevailing international measures.
iii. Technology transfer and capacity building to enhance the capacity of Member Countries in the application of technologies, and implementation of fisheries policies and management tools for the sustainable utilization of fishery resources and aquaculture.
iv. Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the regional fisheries policies and management frameworks adopted under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC collaborative
mechanism, and the emerging international fisheries-related issues including their impacts on fisheries, food security and socio-economics of the region.

STRATEGIES

1. Securing the sustainability of fisheries to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region:

• Assessment of important marine fish stocks in the region and development of guidelines on management measures for such fish stocks;
• Assessment of the status of inland fisheries, and compilation of baseline information on policies and regulations related to inland fisheries in the Member Countries;
• Compilation of scientific data and information including local knowledge on both inland and marine fisheries to support policy formulation and management for sustainable fisheries;
• Development and promotion of regional measures and tools for combating IUU fishing;
• Development of innovative management tools and concepts that are applicable for fisheries in the region;
• Development and promotion of responsible fishing technologies, including energy optimization, carbon reduction and reduction of post-harvest losses onboard fishing vessels; and
• Integration of habitat and fisheries management, and provision of support for the conservation of important fishery resources.

2. Supporting the sustainable growth of aquaculture to complement fisheries and contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region:

• Development, verification and promotion of responsible and sustainable aquaculture technologies, to improve the quality of broodstocks and technologies on seed production;
• Finding alternatives to fish meal in feed formulation and promoting the economical use of feeds;
• Development of practical fish health management strategies including the establishment of early warning system for aquatic animal diseases;
• Generation of appropriate technologies for rural aquaculture to provide livelihood and alleviate poverty; and
• Compilation of scientific data and information including local knowledge to support policy on sustainable aquaculture.

3. Ensuring the food safety and quality of fish and fishery products for the Southeast Asian region:

• Development and promotion of technology to produce high quality, healthy and safe fish and fishery products to meet the international standards;
• Improving endogenous processing technologies to standard or acceptable levels;
• Regular monitoring of chemical and biological contaminants to ensure seafood safety; and
• Promotion of seafood quality assurance systems for fish processing establishments in the region.

4. Enhancing trade and compliance of the region’s fish and fishery products with market requirements:

• Strengthening the cooperation among Member Countries to implement international standards in trade of fish and fishery products within the ASEAN region;
• Development of regional standards, policies and guidelines to enhance intra-regional/international trade; and
• Development and promotion of traceability system for fish and fishery products in the region.

5. Addressing cross-cutting issues, such as labor, gender and climate change, where related to international fisheries

• Provision of platforms for monitoring and evaluating the impacts of emerging international fisheries-related issues on the fisheries and economic sectors in the region;
• Organizing fora to enhance the awareness of Member Countries on international fisheries-related issues and coordinating the development of the ASEAN Common Positions to address the regional concerns on the issues;
• Monitoring of the possible impacts of and raising awareness on climate change to fisheries and aquaculture, and development of adaptation and mitigation measures in response to such impacts;
• Development of regional initiatives to promote the consideration of environmental and biodiversity conservation issues in fisheries and aquaculture management; and
• Recognition of the importance of small-scale fisheries, welfare of labor in fisheries, safety at sea, and gender equality in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

6. Empowering SEAFDEC to strengthen its roles in the region and to improve its services to Member Countries:

• Strengthening SEAFDEC’s capacity to support the ASEAN’s efforts to adopt and implement regional policies and guidelines, as well as ASEAN’s efforts to monitor the implementation of such regional policies and guidelines;
• Enhancing the human resource capability of the Member Countries to support, adopt and nationalize regional policies and guidelines;
• Expanding the network with prominent organizations in relevant fields and engaging actively in international fisheries fora;
• Enhancing human resources within the SEAFDEC organization and pooling expertise in the region to improve the performance of SEAFDEC; and
• Promoting SEAFDEC to wider international communities to gain more support from organizations, governments and donors.