CTI focuses on catch documentation system to improve fisheries management in Coral Triangle Region

Dili, Timor Leste, 25 June 2019 – Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a threat to fish stocks, marine ecosystems, and overall fisheries sustainability in the Coral Triangle (CT) Region. Insufficient fisheries management and a lack of transparency in the fisheries supply chain exacerbate this threat.

Cognizant of these critical issues, the Regional Secretariat of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) partnered with USAID Oceans, the US Department of Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) to conduct a workshop on electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) for marine and fisheries specialists from the CT6 member countries. The activity focused on increasing understanding of eCDT and how it can support the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) to ensure sustainable fisheries management.

The CDT system is a basic concept to combat IUU fishing by providing proper documentation to track fish from the point of catch to the final destination, including the supply chain. It serves as a market-based monitoring, control, and surveillance tool in combating IUU fishing.

Dr. Hendra Yusran Siry, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, emphasized that it is important for CT6 countries to reflect on and assess existing eCDT systems and capacity gaps, as well as evaluate their suitability for implementation in CT6 member countries. He further noted the importance of assessing the specific needs and practices of countries and adapting them into the chosen CDT system as part of overall CT6 fisheries management practices.

Dr. Siry also added that the activity provided a good venue to learn and share insights about existing eCDT systems, which could have a significant impact on marine and coastal preservation and contribute to poverty reduction and food security in the CT Region.

The activity was hosted by the Timor Leste National Coordinating Committee of CTI-CFF and supported by the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) through the US Department of Interior (DOI).

---End---

About CTI-CFF

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6). The CT6 countries work together to sustain extraordinary marine and coastal resources by addressing crucial issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity. The CTI-CFF was established formally during the Leaders’ Summit in 2009 with approval of the leaders from the CT6 countries. They adopted the CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA), which is a strategic action plan with five goals:

1. Designation of effectively managed seascapes;
2. Application of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management;
3. Establishment of a fully functional marine protected area system;
4. Strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience; and
5. Improving the status of threatened marine species.

The Regional Secretariat (RS) of the CTI-CFF is mandated to promote regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and learning facilities within the six-member countries of the Coral Triangle. The RS coordinates and monitors the progress of the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) goals. It supports official meetings and events linked to the CTI-CFF process, including services in monitoring and evaluation, financial coordination, information management, and outreach. The RS also coordinates the implementation of the CTI-CFF RPOA, providing support to, and coordination with, National Coordinating Committees (NCCs), including advising the CTI-CSO on emerging opportunities and priorities to achieve the RPOA goals and targets. Additionally, the RS acts as a channel for communication, information sharing, and networking among the Parties, CTI Partners, and other organizations and donors in promoting the objectives of the CTI-CFF. The RS is based in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

###

Media Contact:

[Insert Media Contact Details Here]

Email: jpolita@cticff.org and regional.secretariat@cticff.org