By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, hosted the first East Asia Summit (EAS) Workshop on Maritime Cooperation: Sustainable and Responsible Fisheries Management from November 17-19.

This is the first initiative on sustainable fisheries implemented under the Manila Plan of Action to Advance the Phnom Penh Declaration on the EAS Development Initiative (2018-2022).

The DFA statement said with more than 60 percent of the world’s population living in the Asia-Pacific and the region’s significance as one of the most important areas in the world for fisheries and aquaculture production, Foreign Affairs Asst. Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Juniver Mahilum-West, concurrently Director-General of the ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat, said the enormous challenge exists in meeting the increase in demand for food in the region while conserving and managing marine and aquatic resources for future generations.

Undersecretary for Fisheries and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources national director Commodore Eduardo Gongona underscored the need for international cooperation to manage and conserve marine resources given the inter-connectiveness of the world’s oceans and the fact that fisheries remain a top driver of economies of coastal states, including the Philippines.

Foreign Affairs Asst. Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Generoso Calonge said through the promotion of sustainable fisheries and the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans will contribute significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Five sessions were held during the Summit which included Science-Based Fisheries Management, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Sustainable Small-Scale fisheries, Initiatives to Address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Addressing Post-Harvest Losses and Sustainable Aquaculture/In-Land Fisheries.

Experts from 17 EAS participating countries and regional organizations, including the ASEAN Secretariat and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), exchanged views and shared best practices on planning and implementing sustainable fisheries management, through the use of best available data, technology, and integrative governance. They also identified areas that may benefit from further collaboration, the DFA statement concluded.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)