Thrust V: Addressing International Fisheries Related Issues from a Regional Perspective 20 Assistance of Capacity Building in the Region to Address
Step 3: Publish books on sharks and rays and identify human resources who work on sharks and rays in the region
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3.2 Evaluation of the Project Outcomes Till the Year 2013 3.2.1 Theme/Program Thrust and Issues:
(1) Theme/Program Thrust:
Research and management of sharks and rays in the Southeast Asian waters/
Thrust IV: Providing Policy & Advisory Services for Planning & Executing Management of Fisheries (2) Issues in the region at the beginning of the study:
About 126 thousand tons of sharks and rays were captured in 2009 in the Southeast Asian region. High demands for shark fin in Asia raise a concern about shark populations. In 1998, FAO proposed International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-SHARKS) corresponds to increase of shark catch. SEAFDEC conducted the basic study of sharks in the ASEAN region in 2003-2004. Species composition and landing were available for one year at major ports in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. However, fisheries data on sharks and rays are still lumped in most Member Countries. More recently, on a regional level the pressure to list commercially important and valuable marine species on CITES is growing. Therefore, governments need to collect data on these species for sustainable utilization. Identification of elasmobranch species is fundamental of biological data collection.
Expertise in identification and biological data collection on sharks and rays in the region need to be strengthened.
3.2.2 Expected Final Goal of the Project:
- To train technical officers in the participating Member Countries to be able to collect biological data on sharks and rays in the region;
- To provide basic biological data on sharks and rays in the region through research activities;
- To publish field guide books on sharks and rays in the region with key features and biology.
3.2.3 “Steps” Toward Achieving Final Goal:
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- Publication of ‘Look-alike sharks and rays species in the Southeast Asian Region’
- Final draft of ‘Field Guide to Rays of the Southeast Asian Region’
(3) Outcomes/Outputs during the project period and expected achievement rate till the end of 2013 (tentative)
Expected outcomes/outputs Achievement rate (%)
- Workshop/Meeting of sharks and rays 50%
- Research on biology of sharks and rays 100%
- Publish field guide books on sharks and rays in the region 100%
- Identify human resources who work on sharks and rays in the region 50%
- Publish a book on biological information on sharks and rays in the region 0%
3.2.6 Evaluation of Project Activities in 2013:
The total of 20 species of sharks (35 specimens) and 26 species of rays (45 specimens) has been collected at landing sites for biological study. Two field guidebooks were published before CITES-CoP16 using compiled data on sharks and rays in the region. Those books have been used to increase local expertise on taxonomy and identification of sharks and rays in the region. An additional book, ‘Field Guide to Rays of the Southeast Asian Region’ will be published soon.
4. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 2014 4.1 Planning of the Project Activities
Activity/inputs Duration Remarks
Activity 1: Meeting/Workshop
Sub-Activity 1.2: Regional Core Expert Meeting
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD will invite selected experts on sharks and rays from participating SEAFDEC Member Countries and SEAFDEC/SEC, and resource persons to participate in the Core Expert Meeting on Sharks and Rays in the third/fourth quarter of 2014. The meeting participants will review current available biological data on sharks and rays in the region, NPOA-sharks and a proposal of the new Japanese Trust Fund project on sharks and rays for sustainable fishery from 2015.
Activity 2: Research on Biology of Sharks and Rays Sub-Activity 2.2: Genetic study and information compilation
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD will continue to compile genetic information on sharks and rays as an alternative identification method. Currently, DNA bar-coding research on sharks is progressing in the world. MFRDMD will conduct genetic research on some of the un-sequenced shark and ray species. Because of time and budget constraints, the new JTF project from 2015 will continue this sub- activity for elasmobranch species identification.
Sub-Activity 2.3: Publication of biological information on sharks and rays in the region
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD will prepare and publish a book about biological information on sharks and rays in the Southeast Asian region.
Aug.-Oct.
Jan.-Dec.
Sept.-Nov.
4.2 Expected Outcomes/Outputs of the Year 2014
During the Regional Core Expert Meeting, participants will review current available biological data on sharks and rays in the region, NPOA-sharks and a proposal of the new Japanese Trust Fund project on sharks and rays for sustainable fishery from 2015. Moreover, the one report of biological information on sharks and rays will be published and distributed to Member Countries. The new publication with previous publications will contribute to strengthen data collection of sharks and rays. This will be an expected output.
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Appendix 20 of Annex 4 PROJECT DOCUMENT
Project id: 051301
Program Categories:
Programs under the Fisheries Consultative Group of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (FCG/ASSP) Mechanism
Project Title: Assistance for Capacity Building in the Region to Address International Fisheries Related Issues
Program Thrust: V Total Duration: 5 years (2013-2017) Lead Department: Secretariat Lead Country: Thailand
Project Sponsor: Japanese Trust Fund Project Partner: ASEAN Secretariat Proposed Budget: USD 319,500 This year
budget:
[2014] USD 44,000 Prepared by Ms. Sawitree Chamsai,
PPO-I Project Leader Dr. Somboon Siriraksophon
1. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND 1.1 Situation analysis
Global demand of fish and fisheries products is increasing, especially in East and South East Asia where an expanding middle class is leading to increased fish consumption especially high-quality and high-value products as purchasing power rises. Asia is an important player on the world fish and seafood market, both as a producer/exporter and buyer. Southeast Asia alone already accounts for 50% of global seafood production1. Within the region, fisheries contribute up to 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Expanding of regional trade in fisheries products is to some extent a result of the elimination of tariffs and quotas2. As reported by FAO in 2012 that there were differences in fish consumption exist between the more-developed and the less-developed countries and the figure showed that developed countries have become increasingly dependent on fish imports to satisfy their demand3. In this connection, improvements in post-harvest technology and distribution have facilitated the movement of fish products from local consumption to international markets4. Even though, the Southeast Asian region is one of the main exporting fisheries products of the world and the ASEAN will soon offer zero duty for all fish products between years 2010 to 2015, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) (food safety regulations, quality standards, market- driven measures) are becoming major factors affecting regional and international trade2. With that concerns ASEAN towards 2015 are on track to the full removal of NTBs as well as enhance transparency of non- tariff measures (NTMs) and work where possible having regional rules and regulations consistent with international best practices as stated in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-20155.
1.2 Stakeholder analysis
The key stakeholder of this project is the officials of fisheries-related agency of the Member Countries who involved/responsible in high-level management/authority in fisheries trade-related issues as well as fisheries foreign affairs. This group of officials will raise the priority issues that would have potentially impact to trade and fisheries management at the regional level. Emerging issues that would impact sustainable fisheries development will be identified and proactive actions including a regional policy
1 http://www.worldoffoodasia.com/index.php?q=seafood
2 R. Pomeroy, Y. T. Garcia, M. M. Dey, and L. R. Garces, 2007. “Regional Economic Integration of the Fisheries Sector in ASEAN Countries,” paper presented at the International Conference on Fisheries and Poverty, April 10–11, 2007, Makati City, Philippines.
3 FAO, 2012. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
4 Yeap, S.E. and M.C.W. Chung, 2011. Ensuring quality and safety of fish and fisheries products through improved post- harvest technologies and safety management systems. In: Fish for the People Vol. 9 No. 2 (2011). Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Bangkok, Thailand. p. 51-57.
5 ASEAN, 2009. Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015. Accessed on 15 September 2013 available online:
http://www.aseansec.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RoadmapASEANCommunity-2.pdf
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recommendation would be developed and the results would be reported to higher authority within the countries as well as reflected at relevant international fora where appropriate.
Target groups:
- Officials of fisheries-related agency of the Member Countries who dealing with the identified priority issues,
- Fishing associations or private sectors who will be affected from specific issue would be identified and invited during the consultation to share/find solution on such priority issues
- Relevant international/regional organizations which have relevant information would be invited to take part in the consultation e.g. INFOFISH, ASEAN Seafood Federation.
Beneficiaries:
- Officials would get benefit from the in-depth studies which will provide information on relevant issues;
- Fisheries industries would receive benefit from the improvement of fish trade regulations/fisheries management in a sustainable manner. Trade of fish and fishery products would be secured while coordination among fisheries-related authorities/sectors would be enhanced.
1.3 Problem analysis
Recognizing the issues on trade in fish and fish products as well as sustainable fisheries development are greatly discussed and driven by international market/organizations such as the UN General Assembly, WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, fisheries subsidies, catch certification, FAO Port State Measures Agreement, EC Regulations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, CITES, traceability, eco-labelling, etc. A number of international instruments have been agreed or enforced by international organizations could determine impacts on sustainable development of fisheries in the Southeast Asian region. Some specific market requirements including unjustified and/or improper application of NTMs would make difficulty or costly on importation or exportation of fishery products.
In response to this, SEAFDEC initiated this project to facilitate the discussion among countries concerned to not only reconcile the international driven issues with the promotion on sustainable fisheries development, but provide proactive assess/evaluate the regional impact and addressing the regional concerns to international fora. Through the technical consultation, the results of regional discussions and conclusion would be analyzed and came up with recommendations for national/regional action plan as well as the regional common/coordinated position to safeguard the interests of ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries at the global fora.
1.4 Links to regional provisions
As indicated in the 2011 Resolution and Plan of Action (Res&PoA), SEAFDEC could play an important role in facilitating the discussion and possibly provide negotiating process for Member Countries in order that proactive or tackle measures could be settled. This is also to strengthen cooperation and mechanisms among Member Countries to work towards ASEAN common positions that could be reflected in international fish trade-related fora (ASEAN Economic Blueprint, and 2011 Res&PoA 69) as well as to engage the private sector (e.g. ASEAN Seafood Federation) in addressing trade-related issues, and in collaborative efforts to promote and sustain regional and international trade (2011 Res&PoA 70).
1.5 Links to the SEAFDEC Program Thrust
This project is in line with the SEAFDEC Program Thrust V: Addressing international fisheries related issues from a regional perspective. The project also aims to facilitate the discussion as well as development of common/coordinated approaches on important issues to be adopted regionally.
1.6 Links with other SEAFDEC’s projects
This project links with other projects especially the project which have common issues to be raised at regional level e.g. the project on “Promotion of Countermeasures to Reduce IUU Fishing Activities” has the issues on the exchange of records and relevant information on fishing vessels 24 meters in length and
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over among the Member Countries. During its Experts Group Meeting, this issue was requested for endorsement by the SEAFDEC Council for policy consideration and for information of the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries. This issue therefore is raised during the RTC for comment and provides views on sharing of information for the said fishing vessel record that would support the regional cooperation on Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) in order to mitigate IUU fishing particularly illegal fishing activities in the Southeast Asian region.
This project also links with the project on “Enhancing the Compilation and Utilization of Fishery Statistics and Information for Sustainable Development and Management of Fisheries in the Southeast Asian Region” which provides relevant data and information on the commercially-exploited aquatic species and threaten species. One of activities of this project supports the improvement of data collection of commercially-exploited aquatic species and threatens species which would improve the understanding on status and knowledge of these species. This information would be used for discussion during the RTC.
2. PROJECT (2013-2017)
2.1 Goal/Overall Objectives and Performance Indicators:
The overall objective of the project is to enhance capacity of the Member Countries to address and develop (pro) active action on international fisheries related issues as prioritized and identified by the Member Countries. The project keeps monitoring the emerging international fisheries related issues, meanwhile providing support to Member Countries through appropriate channels in order to reflect the regional collaborative efforts in managing fisheries and assists the Member Countries in developing regional common/coordinated positions, as well as push forward integration of views from fisheries agencies into those international instruments. The performance indicator of this project is therefore the use of information and recommendations developed in this project by the Member Countries. The Member Countries are requested to provide feedback on how they utilized the information and recommendations from this project in their own context.
Specific objectives:
1) Adopted regional policy recommendation on international fish trade-related issues
2) Adopted ASEAN-SEAFDEC common position and/or coordinated positions on specific issues of the International Fish Trade-related Issues; and
3) Encourage participation of the Member Countries in the international fish trade-related issues fora, such as CITES, important commercially-exploited aquatic species, etc., of which are related to the interests of SEAFDEC Member Countries.
2.2 Expected Outcomes and Outputs:
The expected outputs of the project are firstly the in-depth study on specific subjects as a basis for discussion to develop regional policy recommendation or ASEAN-SEAFDEC common position and/or coordinated positions on international fish trade-related issues. Secondly, the project aims to develop regional policy recommendations or ASEAN-SEAFDEC common position and/or coordinated positions on international fish trade-related issues. Thirdly, it is expected that participation of the Member Countries in the international fish trade-related fora, such as CITES. And finally, the expected outcomes of the project are that the Member Countries make use of information and recommendations developed in this project to enhance their capability especially in reflecting the interests of SEAFDEC Member Countries in such events.
2.3 Project Description/Framework
In order to deal with the international fish trade-related issues that may impacts to the fisheries sectors in the region, it is crucial for SEAFDEC to keep monitoring the emerging international fish trade-related issues and provide platform to ASEAN-SEAFDEC countries to discuss as well as develop the regional policy recommendation on the specific issues. In addition, some important issues it is needed to develop the ASEAN-SEAFDEC common position or coordinated position for further adoption by the SEAFDEC Council Directors. In 2014, the project focuses on the following aspects: 1) Follow-up and monitoring the
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results from the CITES-CoP16; 2) Development of the International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries; 3) Global Records and Regional Records; 4) Market driven measures; and etc. The project activities in 2014 are as follows:
Activity 1: Monitoring & Enhancing the Capacity on International Fish Trade-related Issues
In order to monitor and enhance the capacity on the current movement of the international fish trade-related issues, participation to the event concerns and in-depth study on specific subjects are needed. Updated information and current situation on the issues from the international events will be shared to all SEAFDEC Member Countries for their consideration and information. In 2014, SEAFDEC will monitor the status of following fish trade-related issues:
1) Status and trends of tuna resources focusing on bigeye and yellowfin tuna as well as related measures developed by RFMOs;
2) Capacity building to developing countries on improving of shark data collection and their conservation;
and
3) Development of the common catch documentation system for ASEAN countries to enhance the intra- regional trade and may include international trades.
Activity 2: Developing the Regional Policy Recommendations, Common/Coordinated Position
This is the key activity of the project, SEAFDEC will provide platform for Regional Consultation Meeting or even Senior Official Meeting (if required) in order to discuss and consider the international fish trade- related issues in which may impacts to the development of fisheries and aquaculture in the Southeast Asian Region. The outputs from the RTC are the regional interest to be address at the International fora such as the draft of Regional Policy Recommendation, the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Coordinated Position and the ASEAN Common Position. This draft would be further submitted to the SEAFDEC Council Directors for endorsement and also submitted to ASEAN for Common Position. It is expected that in 2014 the following fish trade-related issues will be addressed at the ASEAN-SEAFDEC RTC for regional policy development:
1) Common interests concerned on the International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries;
2) Regional approach to combating IUU fishing: Port State Measures, Flag State Control;
3) Regional approach on Commercially-exploited Aquatic Species: tuna, sharks; and 4) Others
Activity 3: Information and Dissemination of the Project Results
The outputs from the project such as regional policy recommendations, ASEAN-SEAFDEC Coordination Positions and ASEAN Common Position will be disseminated and promoted. It is expected that such outputs will be concluded and be addressed at the international fora as well as further implementing by the Member Countries.
3. PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE YEAR 2013 3.1 Activities Achievements in the Year 2013
Activities Achievements Activity 1. Monitoring & Enhancing the Capacity on International Fish Trade-related Issues
1.1) In depth study - Reviewing on tuna fisheries resources in the Southeast Asian region
- Study on regional approach to promote the sustainable tuna fisheries in the Southeast Asian region
- Study on requirement for ASEAN Catch Certification to support intra-regional trade in the Southeast Asian region
- Analysis on requirement of the Regional Fishing Records to support combating IUU fishing in the region
- Reviews the proposed proposal from CITES parties on listing of sharks and freshwater string ray in the CITES appendices and coordinate with SEAFDEC Member Countries on the detailed proposal
1.2) Participation in the
international events - The CITES-CoP16 held in Bangkok, Thailand from 3-14 March 2013. During the meeting SEAFDEC supported 1 Brunei Darussalam, 2 Cambodia, 1 Indonesia, 1 Malaysia, 1 Myanmar, 1 Philippines, 1Thailand, 1Vietnam to
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Activities Achievements participate in the meeting which aimed to increase the lesson learned on the
CITES procedure on voting and discussion on each proposal concerned commercially –exploited aquatic species. SEAFDEC coordinated with all ASEAN Member Countries to strengthen the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Common Positions on Sharks, Freshwater stingrays and CITES rule 25. SEAFDEC also developed e-news to update Member Countries day by day meeting results.
- The FAO Technical Consultation on International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries convened in FAO, Rome from 20-14 May 2013. The consultation could not complete and needed to resume the meeting in other session. However, almost 50% of the draft texts were agreed. The results from this will be informed to the next FCG/ASSP for consideration and seek opinion to develop regional common interests to be inputs at the next FAP session meeting. The meeting was participated in by representatives from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
- The Ninth Session of the Scientific Committee of the WCPFC was held in Pohnpei, Micronesia from 6-14 August 2013 with the aims to be updated on the status of tuna resources and management measures by WCPFC. The summary report related to the Southeast Asian tuna resources will be developed and presented to Member Countries during SEAFDEC relevant meetings. The meeting was participated in by representatives from Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
1.3) Technical meeting - No activities
Activity 2. Developing the Regional Recommendations, Common/Coordinated Position 2.1 Review important
international fisheries-related issues to be addressed by the ASEAN
- SEAFDEC developed the executive summary on the important International Fisheries-related Issues for 2013-14 based on the RTC on International Fisheries-related issues held in late 2012 and other SEAFDEC meetings on IUU fishing, Catch Certification, etc. Regarding this the executive summary reports were included three main issues namely: 1) Common Position on CEAS; 2) Concept note on Development of the ASEAN Catch Documentation System;
and 3) Concept note on the Establishment of the Regional Fishing Vessels Record for 24 m in length and over.
- The Executive Summary report was presented to the 45th SEAFDEC Council Meeting, and 21st ASWGFi Meeting for their endorsements.
2.2 Conduct ASEAN- SEAFDEC Regional Consultation on Common/Coordinate d Position of the Commercially- exploited Aquatic Species (CEAS) at the CITES-CoP16
- The Regional Consultation on the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Common Positions for the Commercially-exploited Aquatic Species to be addressed at the CITES CoP16 was organized on 22 January 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting was attended by the SEAFDEC Council Directors, Alternate Council and senior officials.
- The output from the meeting was the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Common Positions on Sharks and Freshwater stingray that were proposed to be listed in the CITES Appendices.
Activities 3. Information & Dissemination of the Results of SEAFDEC-JTF Project