SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
The Knowledge Sharing Seminar was successfully organized on 22 September 2025 at SEAFDEC Secretariat, bringing together SEAFDEC Secretariat staff and eight RFPN members to explore how insights from the FAO’s online courses could be translated into practical actions for regional fisheries development and policy formulation. The Seminar featured in-depth detailed presentations followed by robust Q&A discussions addressing critical strategic issues.
Key takeaways included the need for climate adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability and mitigation efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions from fishing activities. On governance, the importance of designing Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems to national contexts was emphasized, despite common challenges like budget limitations, insufficient human resources, weak coordination among stakeholders, and low MCS literacy within relevant agencies. Adopting a risk-based approach to promote cost-effective compliance through cooperation was suggested.
For Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (SSF), success hinges on strong legal frameworks, rights-based approaches, and community participation, guided by FAO’s 8-step diagnostic tool. ASEAN Member States can leverage FAO technical assistance to develop National Plan of Action on SFF (NPOA-SSF), a process that is already underway in the Philippines.
The Seminar also highlighted that an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAFM) requires management plans supported by legal authority to ensure that rules and fishing rights are both clear and enforceable. Effective communication was highlighted as an essential for gaining stakeholder support. Furthermore, effective fish stock management depends on scientific data and collaborative approach, though challenges remain in establishing historical baselines. The importance of securing fishers’ agreement on regulations derived from stock assessments, using models like Indonesia’s ‘traffic light scheme,’ was particularly noted.
Finally, the new BBNJ Agreement was presented as a crucial complement to UNCLOS in governing Area Beyond National Jurisdiction. With the Agreement set to enter into force in January 2026, it is vital for ASEAN Member States to actively participate in ongoing discussions and preparatory meetings. Such engagement will help align their national policies with the new framework and ensure that the countries are well-positioned to secure both monetary and non-monetary benefits from marine genetic resources, including access to technology and capacity-building initiatives.
In concluding remarks, participants were encouraged to apply the knowledge gained from the seminar as a foundation for advancing regional fisheries development and strengthening collaboration.
