2024 SCS REX on Fisheries Governance

The South China Sea (SCS), which covers 3.5 million sq.km of the Pacific Ocean, is considered highly important for fisheries and marine ecosystem services. The SCS has more than half of the fishing vessels in the world employing 3.7 million fishers. Many researchers have noted that the trend of fisheries and marine resources in the SCS have been declining over the years, catch rates have been depleted by 70-95 percent since the 1950s, and 66-75 percent over the last 20 years, brought about by uncontrolled fishing pressures.

In January 16-19, 2024, the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat was invited to Manila, Philippines, to take part in the South China Sea Regional Exchange (REX) on Fisheries Governance. With support from the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA), the gathering enabled a discussion regarding the state of South China Sea fisheries and sub-regional patterns in fisheries management. This dialogue involved CTI-CFF, the ASEAN Secretariat Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi), and the Regional Plan of Action to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing in the Southeast Asia Region (RPOA-IUU). The goal of the exchange was to strengthen regional fisheries management collaboration among interested ASEAN member states bordering the SCS and relevant regional partner organizations in the future.

CTI-CFF represented by Mr. Christovel R.S. Rotinsulu, Acting Executive Director of the Regional Secretariat, joined Session 3 on the second day with the topic: “Defining the Priority Needs for South China Sea Fisheries Management: Regional presentations”. Mr. Rotinsulu presented about the CTI-CFF Regional Plan Of Action (RPOA) 2.0 updates and initiatives in South China Sea/Sulu Sulawesi Seascape.

The SCS REX was closed with a plenary session to identify next steps that will pave the way for a visionary initiative for a regional network comprising of government fisheries officers, fisheries managers, scientists, and other key fisheries stakeholders. This collaboration is expected to foster new alliances and cooperation within the South China Sea region. The envisioned network seeks to address emerging threats and capitalize on opportunities through targeted sub-regional efforts, underscoring a commitment to shared sustainability and responsible fisheries management practices in the dynamic maritime landscape.