ASEAN: Five-country alliance to monitor fishing activities

Allison Lai The Star 13 Dec 10;

MALACCA: Malaysia will forge an alliance with Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand in tackling issues of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing off its respective waters via information sharing between the countries.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Wira Mohd Johari Baharum said the ministry would establish strategic actions among the countries to combat the issue.

“The impact of IUU has undermined efforts to effectively conserve and manage fish stocks.

“Thus the need to combat the matter in the region through monitoring, control and surveillance programmes is important,” he said at the launch of a seminar on monitoring, control and surveillance network and fishery resources and management here.

He added that the strategic actions included resource management cooperation, monitoring of workers and vessel registration to promote responsible fishing practices.

“Similar meetings between the countries would also be held annually to discuss, review and analyse IUU fishing-related issues,” he said, adding that ad hoc discussions were also allowed based on necessity.

He said Malaysia has a good and comprehensive system practice on vessel registration which other countries are interested to adopt.

“Now, we are even extending the existing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to all fishing boats in Kedah, which was equipped only in deep-sea fishing boats.

“This will enable us to better monitor on trespassing of fishing zones by fishing vessels,” he added.

Mohd Johari said findings from a ministerial in May 2007 showed that the IUU method of fishing in the world is serious with increasing concerns.

“Three sub-regional groups were also formed following the meeting to monitor such fishing activities,” he said.

The groups were the Gulf of Thailand, the Arafura-Timor Seas and the Southern and Eastern South China Sea including the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas.