10%

Guiding the Timor-Leste aquaculture decree law

GEF-FAO Indonesian Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Project

By IW:LEARN

June 7^th, 2020

The goal of Aquaculture Strategic Plan of Timor- Leste 2011-2030 is to improve the food and nutrition security situation of the country, and in contributing to economic activity and household incomes in rural areas. In support to achieve its strategic plan, the GEF-funded, FAO-led ISLME project supported the Director General of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) in hiring an international consultant to revise the draft aquaculture decree making it into a comprehensive law or other format as agreed with the relevant stakeholders and incorporating essential elements of Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture. The mission was conducted from 25 January to 1 February 2020. Several technical meetings were conducted with relevant stakeholders to seek information and inputs.

All these inputs were integrated into the version of the draft decree that was presented during the one-day national workshop. More inputs were raised during the workshop, such as the scope of supervision over aquaculture and primary personnel responsible. The duration of the Aquaculture Business License and the creation of an Aquaculture Promotion Fund to be funded from portion of the collection of the Aquaculture Business Tariffs and the identification of prohibited acts and imposition of administrative sanctions were some important points discussed. The technical report and a draft decree law will be reviewed by the FAO legal division for any further input, after which it will be shared with MAF.

Drafting the decree. Photo credit: ISLME Project, 2020

The FAO-led GEF project “Enabling transboundary cooperation for sustainable management of the Indonesian Seas” is designed to strengthen regional cooperation and support the effective and sustainable management of the ISLME region. This project will play a catalytic role in addressing transboundary concerns by assisting Indonesia and Timor- Leste to restore and sustain coastal and marine fish stocks and associated biodiversity.

Canoe fishers in Adarai, Viqueque, Timor-Leste. Photo credit: Alex Tilley, 2017

For more information on the ISLME Project please contact the Project Regional Coordinator, Muralidharan ChavakatManghat (Muralidharan.ChavakatManghat@fao.org), and visit the project page on iwlearn.net.

This article was adapted from the first ISLME project Newsletter for the GEF IW:LEARN Special Edition Newsletter in celebration of World Oceans Day, 8 June 2020