SEAFDEC organizes Twenty-third Meeting of FCG/ASSP

The Twenty-third Meeting of the Fisheries Consultative Group (FCG) of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (ASSP) or the 23FCG/ASSP was organized by SEAFDEC through the online platform from 17 to 18 November 2020. The 23FCG/ASSP was co-chaired by Acting Director of the Department of Fisheries of Brunei Darussalam, Ms. Noraini Haji Anggas on behalf of the current Chairperson of the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) and the Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, Ms. Malinee Smithrithee. The participants of the Meeting include the representatives from the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as the SEAFDEC Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, and senior officials of the SEAFDEC Secretariat and Departments.

The aims of the 23FCG/ASSP were to take note of the programs and activities implemented in 2020 and endorse the programs proposed for 2021 under the FCG/ASSP Mechanism that had been scrutinized by the recently-concluded Forty-third Meeting of the SEAFDEC Program Committee, as well as take note of the implementation and provide guidance on the policy documents under the FCG/ASSP Mechanism and other issues that are of importance to the fisheries sector of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries. The main issues deliberated during the 23FCG/ASSP include combating IUU fishing, promotion of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, ensuring the food safety and quality of fish and fishery products, fish trade-related issues, and other emerging issues. The results and recommendations of the Meeting would be submitted to the Fifty-third Meeting of SEAFDEC Council in 2021 and to the ASEAN for consideration and policy support in the implementation of future activities.