In the global and regional situation of IUU fishing, SEAFDEC/TD has been implementing the project titled “Promotion of Countermeasures to reduce IUU Fishing” in coordination and cooperation with SEAFDEC Member Countries to reduce IUU fishing activities in the region from 2013 to 2019 under the JTF 6. The activities such as the development of a regional database on fishing vessels (Regional Fishing Vessels Record: RFVR), regional cooperation to support the implementation of Port State Measures (PSM) through the capacity development, and the development and promotion of an electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme (eACDS) were undertaken. To continue to support the member countries in the region for combating IUU fishing as recommended by the Council Meeting, this project titled “Strengthening a regional cooperation and enhancing national capacities to eliminate IUU fishing in Southeast Asia” is implemented under the JTF 6-II for the year 2020-2024. Under the project overall objectives “Sustainable utilization and sound management of fisheries resources in the Southeast Asia”, objectives”, the project expects five outputs; 1) enhancing RFVR, 2) strengthening national capacities in the implementation of PSM, 3) further promoting eACDS, and 4) coordinating and promoting a national/regional/international network for collaborative activities to combat IUU fishing.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing can take place in all capture fisheries. Efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks are undermined by IUU fishing, which can lead to the collapse of fisheries or can seriously impair efforts to rebuild fish stocks that have already been depleted. This may result in the loss of both short- and long-term social and economic opportunities and could have negative impacts on food security.

The Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 adopted at the “ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Fish for the People 2020: Adaptation to a Changing Environment” held in Bangkok, Thailand, 13-17 June 2011, emphasized on: 1) strengthening regional and national policy and legislation to implement measures and activities to combat IUU fishing, including the development and implementation of national plans of action to combat IUU fishing, and promoting the awareness and understanding of international and regional instruments and agreements through information dissemination campaigns, 2) establishing and strengthening regional and sub-regional coordination on fisheries management and efforts to combat IUU fishing including the development of regional/sub-regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) networks, 3) facilitating consultative dialogue among fisheries legal officers to share, at the sub-regional/regional level, perspectives of the respective legal and regulatory framework in terms of developing MCS-networks and to take action to combat IUU fishing, and 4) building up capacity among Member Countries, including functions for regional and sub-regional cooperation, to effectively meet the requirements of Port State Measures and flag state responsibilities.

Moreover, at the “High-level Consultation on Regional Cooperation in Sustainable Fisheries Development Towards the ASEAN Economic Community: Combating IUU Fishing and Enhancing the Competitiveness of ASEAN Fish and Fishery Products” held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 3 August 2016, the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries declared and planned under relevant international laws and arrangements to combat IUU fishing in the Southeast Asian region and enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN fish and fishery products in the region and internationally.

Following the directions of the “Resolution and Plan of Action for 2020” and declaration, the SEAFDEC Training Department (TD) has been implementing the project titled “Promotion of Countermeasures to reduce IUU Fishing” in coordination and cooperation with SEAFDEC Member Countries to reduce IUU fishing activities in the region from 2013 to 2019 under the JTF 6. In respond to a request from all the Member Countries for SEAFDEC’s continued technical support for combating IUU fishing in the countries and region, SEAFDEC has planned a new project titled “Strengthening a regional cooperation and enhancing national capacities to eliminate IUU fishing in Southeast Asia” under the JTF 6-II for the year 2020-2024.

The project open and equalize for gender sensitivity. All implementation activities is not limited for man only, women and all sex can engagement, relevant and participation.

4.1 Logical Framework 

Countermeasures to reduce IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia

Enhancing the utilization and improvement of Regional Fishing Vessels Record (RFVR) Database

Activity 1.1: Regional technical consultation to improve the utilization of RFVR 24 meters, and develop the Watch List

Activity 1.2: National training to promote RFVR Database to ASEAN Member States (AMSs)

Activity 1.3: Sub-regional or bilateral meeting to develop the application of RFVR to support the Port State Measures (PSM) requirements (e.g. Myanmar and Thailand)

Activity 1.4: Information, education and communication materials to support the RFVR Database developed

Increased number of fisheries inspectors and strengthened implementation of PSM in Southeast Asia

Activity 2.1: Capacity development on port inspection to support the PSM Implementation, and the introduction on the PSM implementation (in general) to non-ratified AMSs

Activity 2.2: Regional meeting to share information on detecting IUU fishing vessels for preventing the landing of fish and fishery products from IUU fishing vessels at ports in AMSs 

Activity 2.3: Regional workshop on the review of national legal framework and procedures for the implementation of the PSM, including a gap analysis in the respective legal frameworks of the AMSs (together with 2.1)

Application of the electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation System (eACDS) to eliminate IUU fisheries products in AMSs

Activity 3.1: Continued coordination, facilitation, development and expansion of eACDS in AMSs, particularly for Viet Nam, Malaysia, Myanmar and etc. (in collaboration with MFRDMD)

National/regional/international network for collaborative activities to eliminate IUU fishing

Activity 4.1: Coordination with international/regional/national organizations (e.g. FAO, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFB) and national agencies) in and beyond the region to support AMSs in the implementation of relevant activities to eliminate IUU fishing

Activity 4.2: Participation in national/regional/international meetings relevant to combating IUU fishing