“The RPOA-IUUF and G20 member countries (must) come together to encourage the implementation of responsible fisheries standards,” said Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, during his opening speech at the workshop. “Coinciding with the G20 presidency, this is the perfect example of Indonesia's G20 theme, namely ‘Recovering Together, Rising Together’, whereupon the world can (reconnect) and overcome IUU fishing problems," said the Minister.
The workshop set out to share best practices for the implementation of responsible fisheries practices, particularly in tackling IUU fishing by RPOA IUU and G20 countries. In addition, it aimed to accelerate the adoption of regional standards related to responsible fisheries practices in tackling IUU fishing, according to the national regulations and policies of each country.
ATSEA-2 Regional Project Manager, Handoko Adi Susanto also explained that practical policy frameworks and regional cooperation are essential to enhancing efforts to combat IUU fishing. "The ATSEA-2 Project will continue to explore concrete efforts to collaborate with RPOA-IUU and G20 members on addressing IUU fishing."
As part of ATSEA-2’s commitment to combat IUU fishing, the Project has maintained close collaboration with the RPOA-IUU Secretariat to produce various IUU assessments and reports. These include the Supporting Efforts in Developing Tools for the FAO Global Record Initiative, Review of National Policies and Regulation of RPOA-IUU Participating Countries, and Collaborative Surveillance Best Practices and Lesson Learned Against IUU Fishing. Furthermore, the Project will address factors that have constrained sustainable fisheries management in the ATS countries including overfishing, destruction of natural habitats, and IUU fishing. This will be accomplished through the implementation and adoption of comprehensive and integrated ecosystem-based approaches to natural resource management and conservation at the national and regional levels.