Appendices

Appendix 1: Management and conservation of fishery resources in the Asia-Pacific region*
Appendix 2: Summary information on FAO regional fishery bodies
Appendix 3: Terms of reference of the APFIC consultant
Appendix 4: APFIC Agreement
Appendix 5: Attendance of Member Governments at APFIC Sessions, 1949-1996
Appendix 6: Venues, dates and officers of APFIC Sessions and of the Executive Committee
Appendix 7: APFIC Secretariat, 1948-1998
Appendix 8: Structure of Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission
Appendix 9: APFIC Symposia
Appendix 10: Training centers/seminars organized by FAO in response to the APFIC recommendations in the early period
Appendix 11: The APFIC regional cooperative fishery research programme
Appendix 12: Report of the Conference of FAO, Twenty-ninth Session; Rome, 7-18 November 1997: Review of FAO statutory bodies

Appendix 1: Management and conservation of fishery resources in the Asia-Pacific region*

* Adapted with relevant data updated from document APRC/98/4 which was submitted to the Twenty-fourth FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Yangon, Myanmar, 20-24 April 1998.

INTRODUCTION

More than 120 million people world-wide are estimated to depend on fish for all or part of their income. Most are poor, especially those in Africa, Asia and Oceania. In South and Southeast Asia the total number of full and part-time fishermen in early 1990s was about 30.2 million, of which 13.2 million were reported to be full-time fishermen (Table 1). In addition, there was a substantial number of occasional fishermen who gained less than one-third of their income or spent less than one third of their work time in fishing activities.

In many countries, fisheries play a major role in food security. During 1993-1995 the average global per capita consumption of fish was 14.5 kg/year, while in East, Southeast Asia and in Oceania it was respectively 25.4 kg/year, 21.2 kg/year and 20.1 kg/year, reflecting the importance of fish in the food security of these regions and their preference for fish as food. However, in low-income food-deficit countries and South Asia the average per capita consumption of fish was only 11.5 kg/year and 4.8 kg/year, respectively (Table 2). The development and strengthening of fisheries in these countries and region might contribute significantly to their food security.

Fish sales also provide important foreign exchange earnings. The annual export of fish and fishery products from Asia and the Pacific was worth more than US$ 19 billion in 1995. Thailand, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and India, were ranked as top exporters of fishery commodities with a total export value of US$ 14 billion in 1995. However, several countries in the region rely on fish imports to satisfy increasing domestic demand. Hence, the net imports of the Asia-Pacific region increased from US$ 782 million in 1985 to US$ 5 billion in 1995. In addition, foreign income generation by some export countries risks being seriously affected by major importers’ requirements.

The need to review and adjust fishing practices to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources was recognized at the Twenty-second Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI, Rome, 17-20 March 1997) which emphasized rational fisheries management as one of the means to achieve sustainability in the face of growing world demand for fish. This appendix contains an information on the state of the fisheries in the Asia-Pacific region, the demand and supply prospects, and key management issues which need to be resolved to help the countries in the region achieve their fisheries sustainability.

STATE OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

The 1996 production from capture fisheries and aquaculture of this region was 66.5 million tons, accounting for 55 percent of the total world fishery production (Table 3). This production comprised 47.4 million tons from marine waters and 18.9 million tons from inland waters. The annual rate of production increase during 1986-1996 was 6.2 percent as compared to the global rate of production increase of 3.0 percent. The rate of production increase for the marine fisheries sub-sector was only 4.5 percent as compared to 14.4 percent for the inland fisheries sub-sector, where freshwater aquaculture was the major contributor. Since 1986 the region has experienced more than a threefold increase in aquaculture production. In 1996 the region’s production of fish, shellfish and seaweeds amounted to 31 million tons or 91 percent of the total world aquaculture production (Table 4).

East Asia

The major fishing countries are China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The East China Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the eastern offshore waters of Japan are among the most heavily exploited waters in the world. Aquaculture in the sub-region contributes 76 percent of the total world aquaculture production. Fish consumption is high, and the countries of the sub-region are very active international traders. The sub-region as a whole, however, is now a net importer of fish and fishery products due to high importation of fish and fishery products by Japan.

The marine fishery production of East Asia was 31.5 million tons in 1996. Approximately 2 million tons of this were caught in other marine waters. Total marine production of Japan and the Republic of Korea has decreased in recent years, due mainly to the decline of landings of Japanese pilchard. The increase of marine fishery production of the sub-region was contributed primarily by China whose marine fishery production rose from 3.1 million tons in 1978 to 20.4 million tons in 1996. Fisheries in the East China Sea are mainly small-scale; but the sea is now overfished and valuable species have declined. The Sea of Japan resources have been overexploited by fleets from Japan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Although the largest fleet in the sub-region is that of Japan its marine fish production declined from a peak of 11.8 million tons in 1984 to 6.6 million tons in 1996 due partly to the gradual exclusion of Japanese distant water fleets from the EEZs of other coastal States and partly to the set back in offshore and coastal fisheries.

Since the eighties, there has been a remarkable development of fisheries in China with rapid production increase in marine capture fisheries and inland aquaculture. China is the main producer of inland fish in the sub-region, with a total production in 1996 of 12.7 million tons, or 98 percent of the sub-region’s inland fishery production. However, the inland production from capture fisheries in China contributed only 14 percent and the rest came from inland aquaculture (mainly carps). Chinese aquaculture production accounted for some 68 percent of the total world aquaculture output. Chinese production in 1996 of fish, shellfish (mainly freshwater species), seaweeds and other aquatic species amounted to 23.4 million tons. This remarkable growth is attributed to expanded aquaculture areas, the introduction of new species and new systems such as cage culture, artificial propagation programmes, the control of unwanted species, habitat modification and environmental engineering of the water bodies.

Chinese aquaculture is generally characterized by finfish farming, low-stocking densities, and semi-intensive, polyculture, pond based systems whereas Japan employs intensive and more technologically advanced aquaculture methods to produce mainly carnivorous marine and diadromous species. Fish and shellfish production from aquaculture in Japan rose from 693,000 tons in 1986 to 829,000 tons in 1996. The aquaculture production of the Republic of Korea declined from 428,000 tons in 1986 to 358,000 tons in 1996, mostly due to the decreased production of molluscs. Whilst the seaweed production of Japan decreased from 610,000 tons in 1986 to 520,000 tons in 1996, the production in Korea (Rep. of) increased slightly from 524,000 tons in 1986 to 539,000 tons in 1996.

South and Southeast Asia

The sub-region covers some of the most productive waters in the world. Total capture fisheries and aquaculture production reached 20.9 million tons in 1996, accounting for 17 percent of the total world catch. Fish consumption varies, being higher in coastal areas of Southeast Asia and much lower in the northern inland parts of South Asia. More than 10 million people are engaged in the fisheries sector; of which about 90 percent are small-scale fishermen. The fisheries are characterized by multi-gear, multi-species operations, mainly with small traditional craft. Fish trade in this sub-region has expanded significantly over the last decade. Thailand has been the world top exporter since 1993, with a total export of US$ 4,449 million in 1995. Other major exporters are Indonesia and India, with total exports of US$ 1,667 million and US$ 1,241 million, respectively.

Total marine fish production has grown from 10 million tons in 1986 to approximately 15 million tons in 1996. The major contributors to this increase were India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Small pelagic species are more important for food in this sub-region than in any other, accounting for about one-third of the landings, followed by demersal species and tuna. Penaeus shrimp catches make up less than 10 percent of the total weight, but is by far the most valuable species group exploited. Cephalopods currently provide only a small fraction of the total catch, but production has grown significantly at an annual rate of 11 percent over the past decade.

Most of the coastal marine fish stocks in the sub-region have been fished almost to full exploitation, coastal demersal species, especially in the Gulf of Thailand, have been heavily exploited, whereas offshore resources may have been less intensively fished. The lack of catch and effort statistics prevent a reliable assessment of the state of the stocks, but it is believed that small pelagic stocks are still less intensely fished in certain waters. Most stocks of shrimps appear to be fully exploited or depleted. Tuna stocks vary but in many areas are fully utilized.

The production from inland fisheries of this sub-region, including aquaculture, increased from 3.7 million tons in 1986 to 5.8 million tons in 1996. This sub-sector suffers from heavy fishing pressure, growing environmental degradation, and in some areas conflicts with other land and water users. Bangladesh contributed about 17 percent of the sub-region’s inland production, whilst India and Indonesia together contributed about 55 percent. All fish catches by landlocked Laos, Bhutan and Nepal as well as most fish supplies in Cambodia come from inland waters. Traditional aquaculture has been practiced since time immemorial, especially in Southeast Asia. With advanced methodologies and techniques, total aquaculture production in the sub-region increased from 2 million tons in 1986 to 4.8 million tons in 1996. The increase in value over the same period was even more notable, viz., from US$ 2,277 million to US$ 9,000 million. In volume, the main producers are India, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Finfish are the main species in volume, followed by crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Crustaceans represented more than 50 percent of the total value in 1996.

However, the rapid development of the aquaculture industry in the sub-region, especially intensive and semi-intensive brackishwater aquaculture has created environmental concerns for future development including pollution in water bodies, disease outbreaks in ponds, and high density coastal aquaculture practices. Consequently, there is a need to establish better aquaculture management systems to attain sustainable aquaculture through integrated rural or coastal area management programmes.

South Pacific/Oceania

The sub-region encompasses vast areas of marine waters but accounted for only 1.3 percent of the total fishery production in the region in 1996. However, the fisheries sector plays a crucial role in the food security and economies of the South Pacific small island developing States and territories (SIDs). Fish consumption is relatively high and income derived from distant-water fishing nations which pay access fees to some SIDs under access agreements, and export of fish, notably tunas, play an important role in the economies of these island countries.

The total domestic marine fishery production of the sub-region was 857,000 tons in 1996, almost 97 percent of total fish production in Oceania. In addition, almost one million tons of tunas is harvested annually by foreign fleets. In the eighties and early nineties, sub-regional production rose much faster than the global average, but has declined in recent years as a result of restructuring in Australian commercial fisheries and changing management regimes in New Zealand. The bulk of the landings originate in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, and are mainly caught by New Zealand. Australia also fishes in the Eastern Indian Ocean, and the catches of some SIDs are from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.

Tuna is the main industrial fisheries target. Distant-water fishing fleets from several countries outside the region participate in tuna fisheries through access agreements. The Pacific island national fleets take only about 10.4 percent of the weight of the tuna caught in the Pacific Community statistical area. Industrial fisheries technology is at an intermediate level in most SIDs due to the lack of a trained work force and infrastructure necessary to support advanced fishing operations.

The strong fish eating tradition results in extensive involvement in subsistence fisheries. In these small-scale fisheries sub-sectors, there are localized excess capacity problems particularly around atolls and reefs. There is very little interaction between the export fisheries and domestic fish production, and the species exported are usually not part of local diets. Export production includes sea cucumbers, snappers, and mother-of-pearl shells.

From the food security point of view, inland fisheries are important in only two countries of the sub-region, viz., Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The total inland capture fishery harvest in the South Pacific in 1996 amounted to only 22,000 tons (Table 3). In Australia and New Zealand, inland fisheries are also valued but as a recreational resource.

Aquaculture production in the sub-region has risen from 26,000 tons in 1986 to almost 97,000 tons in 1996, due mainly to increases in coastal aquaculture in New Zealand and Australia. The major increase from a single species was from mussel cultivation in New Zealand, which grew from 9,800 tons in 1984 to 65,000 tons in 1996. Other notable increases have been observed in the culture of chinook salmon in New Zealand and of Atlantic salmon and trout in Australia.

DEMAND AND SUPPLY PROSPECTS

Recent studies carried out by FAO¹ on the sustainable contribution of fisheries to food security in the region indicate that, by the year 2010 substantially more fish will be required to sustain the demand from the expanding population. In the East Asian sub-region, the demand for fish will increase in both volume and per caput terms in some areas. Japan is a possible exception as fish consumption is already high and population growth close to zero, although preferences may change from lower-value to higher-value products because of increasing personal incomes. Japan will to continue to rely on imports to satisfy its high demand for fish and fishery products.

Taking the expanding populations of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea together, the requirement for food fish could be 5 million tons by 2010 and by including non-food items and export of fish and fishery products, the total supply requirement may be approximately 7 million tons or 2.5 million tons above the current level.

China has set a target for fish production of 32 million tons by the year 2000 and by 2010 this could rise to 40 million tons. Significant growth potential exists for freshwater aquaculture; but traditional marine capture fisheries in coastal waters do not appear to offer any significant production increase potential, and coastal resources need to be efficiently managed. Future increases in landings from the sea are expected to come from distant-water fishing. It is expected that increase in personal incomes will generate enough purchasing power to satisfy any domestic demand-supply gap with a further growth in imports.

In South and Southeast Asia, the demand is expected to increase in response to rising populations and incomes which will boost intraregional trade both for high-value and low-value fish and fishery products. By 2010, fish supplies will need to increase by at least 5 million tons merely to maintain current per caput consumption levels, and the effect of economic growth on demand will further increase requirements. The major growth in demand will be in Southeast Asia where consumption is already high. An increase of 3.6 million tons over the 1991/93 average per caput consumption levels, or a 20 percent growth in production is envisaged. In South Asia, an increase of 1.3 million tons above the current levels of production would be required to satisfy the demand by the year 2010.

In Australia and New Zealand, the total demand for food fish of about 700,000 tons by 2010 is envisaged as the per capita consumption could well rise to over 27 kg/year. Supplies from capture fisheries are unlikely to increase substantially from the present level of around 739,000 tons. However, the production from aquaculture may rise to some 160,000 tons by 2010. Hence, if current export and import trends continue, there will be no negative implications for fish supplies or for food security.

For Oceania, the increased populations of SIDs will generate increased demand for food fish of some 60,000 tons by 2010. However, in view of the limited coastal resources in most countries, per caput supplies are likely to decrease, resulting in increasing dependency on imports and declining diet quality, thus creating food insecurity. To provide sufficient fish supply, marketing and distribution systems have to be improved to facilitate the efficient transportation of fish among states and territories and within states and territories themselves. Fish will remain the most important source of animal protein for the majority of the small island countries in the Southwest Pacific.

The foregoing review indicates that the region’s demand for fish by the year 2010 of some additional 24 million tons is unlikely to be met from significant increases in marine fish production. Many coastal fish stocks will need to be rehabilitated urgently through effective fisheries management schemes with special attention to substantial monitoring or even reduction in fishing efforts. To satisfy this increasing demand, aquaculture, and to a lesser extent, inland fisheries, may provide better opportunities for increasing regional fish production, especially in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. However, improved management systems are also needed for accelerated sustainable aquaculture development, rehabilitation of inland fishery resources, and alleviation of environmental degradation.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN THE WATERS UNDER NATIONAL JURISDICTIONS

Although trends of marine fish landings in the Asia-Pacific region have shown an increase during the past decade the yield capacities of several exploited stocks may have already reached their limits. The rising demand for fish from the expanding population of the region and from markets outside the region as well as the policy of a number of governments of allowing citizens open access to the fishery resources have led to the rapid increase in marine fishery production. With increasing fishing pressure, many coastal pelagic and demersal fish stocks in the Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Thailand, and the South China Sea have been fully exploited or overfished.

Indicators in support of this finding are: total catches surpassing the estimated Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSYs); the decline in the total catches and the relative indices of abundance; and the change in size and species composition of demersal catches with an increased amount of low-valued species and juveniles of high-valued species caught.

The rapid development of coastal areas of the region, especially the clearing of mangroves for intensive shrimp culture, nearshore mining, agricultural activities and the increase of the population in coastal areas has had a negative impact on coastal fishery resources and increased the rate of environmental degradation. These problems should be resolved under integrated coastal area management plans.

The adverse impacts that have already occurred or will follow include:

• Reduction of catch and income of both small-scale and commercial fishermen;
• Increased conflicts between small-scale fishermen themselves and between small-scale fishermen and commercial fishermen competing for the depleted resources;
• Rising costs of exploitation and ensuing costs for consumers;
• Reduction of per capita consumption of fish by the population, thus affecting food security;
• Decrease in export earnings;
• Increase in the importation of fish for domestic consumption; and
• The eventual collapse of the fisheries in some fishing grounds.

Management of aquaculture systems is another important issue as aquaculture contributes significantly towards reinforcing food security and the betterment of the economies of the countries in the region. The rapid development of aquaculture in South and Southeast Asia, especially intensive shrimp culture without proper management, has caused the destruction of mangroves and other fish habitats; eutrophication and discharge of wastes; and modifications of water currents, resulting in environmental degradation and unsustainable aquaculture development. The policy issues and strategies to rectify these problems are well documented, however, the need for a good aquaculture management framework to effect ecologically friendly practices should be highlighted and supported by adequate legislation aimed at the reduction of environmental impact of aquaculture practices.

Another key strategy is the development of low-input aquaculture in rural areas. Although this simple fish farming system may not be economically viable on a commercial scale, it provides a ready source of high-quality protein for the rural poor and is environmentally friendly

The above management issues point to the need for stronger political will and commitment on the part of governments to conserve fishery resources through improved and more effective fisheries management systems. To achieve the goal of sustainability, the overall fisheries management policy will have to shift from maximizing production to optimizing the net socio-economic benefits over the long term with increased emphasis on prevention and control of environmental degradation.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES CONCERNING SHARED FISH STOCKS AND HIGH SEA FISH STOCKS

Shared stocks refer to those transboundary fish stocks which are distributed within areas under national jurisdiction of two or more States. They include pelagic and migratory species such as round scads, short mackerel, sardines, and sardine-like fishes. Several demersal species less mobile than the schooling pelagic species, also move into neighbouring coastal States’ waters. As the signs of overexploitation of coastal and inshore fish stocks, including many transboundary stocks, have been reported by many coastal States of the region, serious consideration must be given to the management of shared stocks by those that exploit them. Management action taken by only one country on part of the life cycle without cooperation of the other parties involved in the exploitation will be futile, resulting in wastage of funds, depletion of the stock, and eventual collapse of the fisheries.

The process for managing shared stocks is similar to that for the stocks under national jurisdiction, viz., the identification of the unit stocks; assessment of the state of stocks; formulation and implementation of management measures; and establishment of suitable mechanisms for monitoring, control and surveillance of the fisheries. To sustain the contribution of these resources, both medium and long-term approaches are required. For the medium-term, concerned countries should have a suitable agreement for the collaborative management of the stocks they exploit, including the establishment of a monitoring, control and surveillance system, and should adhere to the management measures agreed upon. For a long-term approach, Member Governments may consider establishing a suitable mechanism for coordinating cooperative research programmes, harmonizing fisheries management policies, and making recommendations to fisheries bodies at the national and regional levels.

The management of straddling stocks, for example, tuna and tuna-like fishes, will require close cooperation among the countries that exploit them to ensure their sustainability. In the Indian Ocean, tuna management mechanisms exist; i.e., the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) and the recently established Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). The management of the Eastern Pacific tuna stocks is undertaken by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (I-ATTC). In the South Pacific, there are the Pacific Community (formerly South Pacific Commission) and the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). A suitable mechanism for the management of tuna fisheries in the South China Sea and Western Central Pacific should be established as at present there is no such mechanism in this dynamic region of the world. Tunas exploited in the archipelagic waters of Indonesia and Philippines are believed to be related to the stocks in the South Pacific. Hence, closer collaboration between the FFA and the regional bodies in Southeast Asia should be fostered to enhance effective management programmes to conserve these important resources.

Discards and by-catches are another issue relevant to the management of fisheries since they are the by-product of industrial and commercial fisheries. Trummel nets and bottom trawl nets used in shallow waters are the most destructive in terms of discards of non-target species. Shrimp trawl nets produce the highest ratios of discards to shrimp landed (10-14 kg of discards per one kg of shrimp landed). However, by-catches and discards are increasingly used. For example in Thailand and China, good quality by-catch is processed into salted and dried products for sale in the interior parts of the countries. However, problems remain, particularly in industrial fisheries, and the solution thereto may be a combination of technology, economics and legal measures.

STRENGTHENING FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Besides greater government commitment, efficient management systems require essential inputs to assess current status of fishery resources and fisheries. These include:

• reliable fisheries information and statistical databases;
• strengthened fishery research; accelerated technology transfer and capacity building; and
• regional cooperation.

Although progress has been made in the improvement of fisheries information and statistics in several countries in the region the lack of reliable information and data availability in a timely manner is one of the major causes of failure in effective fisheries management. There is a need, therefore, to have timely and more reliable information and data for fisheries development planning and for rational fisheries management, especially information on the catch and catch per unit of effort of major species exploited and socio-economic data on fishing population, fishing capacity, and cost and earnings in fisheries.

However, the lack of timely information and data should not prevent a government from taking management action. The principle of a precautionary approach as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries should be followed in the management of the fisheries whether they are coastal or offshore.

There is also a need to improve research quality, technical capability of researchers and infrastructure and facilities for research, and to strengthen research coordination between government institutes and universities. Moreover, low priority is given to marine fishery research in many countries as indicated by the limited research funds, obsolete facilities and the complacent attitude of administrators and policy makers. Priority in research should be assigned by the government, in consultation with the fishing industry, fishermen and academics.

Positive steps should be taken prevent further degradation of the region’s aquatic environment. These are often best undertaken through integrated coastal area management. For inland waters, a policy of integrated catchment basin management is needed including the development of culture-based fisheries as widely practiced in China.

Current enforcement of management measures needs to be improved. The main causes of ineffective management include the lack of clear objectives and mandates for fisheries management; the lack of budget, qualified personnel and facilities; the lack of research information and reliable data to support management decisions; and the absence of coordination among various enforcement agencies.

The importance of technology transfer and capacity building, especially in the area of fisheries management, is widely recognized. To facilitate the transfer of technology especially to the grass roots level, there is a need to improve and strengthen extension work and foster closer cooperation amongst administrators, scientific and academic institutes, the fishing industry and the fishermen themselves.

REGIONAL COOPERATION IN SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

Regional cooperation is vital in the attainment of self-reliance in sustainable fisheries development of the member countries of APFIC, whereby it helps accelerate the results of research and investigations, and economizes their costs as well as harmonizes fisheries management policies and regulations particularly on the management of high seas, shared, and transboundary fish stocks. In the Asia-Pacific region, there are more than 20 intergovernmental organizations and NGOs which are engaged in promoting cooperation and collaboration between the Asia-Pacific countries in fisheries research, development and management. There are also many programmes and projects at both regional and country levels assisted by multilateral financing institutions and donor countries. There is thus a regional framework for cooperation the region in various aspects of fisheries management and development. Nevertheless, the activities of these bodies need to be coordinated effectively with a view to effecting the wise use of limited development assistance funds and avoiding the duplication of effort.

The vital role of regional and sub-regional bodies and/or arrangements for the conservation and management of living marine resources, especially shared or transboundary fish stocks, and in the high seas is stipulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The need to strengthen sub-regional and regional fishery organizations has been reiterated in the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks; the 1995 Rome Consensus on World Fisheries; the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; the 1995 Kyoto Declaration and the Plan of Action on the Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security; and the Resolution adopted by the 95^th Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Istanbul in April 1996.

In the Asia-Pacific region, bodies that have regulatory powers in resource conservation and fisheries management include the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (I-ATTC) for tuna conservation and management in the eastern Pacific Ocean; the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), recently established under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution, for the conservation and management of tunas in the Indian Ocean; and the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) which regulates access of tuna vessels of distant-water fishing nations in its area of competence.

The other sub-regional and regional bodies do not have regulatory powers but provide policy guidance and scientific advice on resource conservation and fisheries management. Under the aegis of FAO these include: the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) and the Indian Ocean Fishery Commission (IOFC). APFIC promotes full and proper utilization of living aquatic resources through the development and management of fish and culture operations, as well as through related processing and marketing activities in the Asia-Pacific region. IOFC promotes and assists its Members in the development and conservation of fishery resources in the Indian Ocean. At its Tenth Session in September 1997, the IOFC Bay of Bengal Committee agreed to transfer its future activities to APFIC.

Regional fishery bodies outside the FAO umbrella include: the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC); the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA); the Mekong River Commission (MRC); the Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fish Products in the Asia/Pacific Region (INFOFISH); the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES); and the Pacific Community. Other bodies with a broad fishery interest are the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), and the South East Asian Programme in Ocean Law Policy and Management (SEAPOL).

In the Asia-Pacific region, APFIC (formerly the Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission - IPFC) was established in 1948 by an intergovernmental Agreement concluded under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. The area of competence of the Commission is broadly defined as the “Asia-Pacific area”. At present, APFIC has 20 member countries.

As an Article XIV body, APFIC can have stronger management mandates than those bodies established under Article VI of the FAO Constitution. However, such mandates have not been exercised to date due to lack of funds and most activities have been the elaboration of management advice and recommendations for consideration and implementation by the Members. In contrast to APFIC, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has wide ranging management and conservation powers, and a built-in provision for contributions from its Members for activities to be undertaken.

Since its inception, APFIC has promoted international and regional cooperation and the upgrading of national capacities for rational fisheries management and development through the diffusion of fishery information and statistical data bases, transfer of methodologies, and scientific cooperation in various aspects of capture and culture fisheries. The work of its committees and associated working parties of experts as well as symposia organized in conjunction with Commission sessions have provided useful information and policy guidance for its Members on how to resolve priority issues affecting the sustainable development of fishery resources. The useful role of the Commission was reaffirmed by its Members at the Twenty-fifth Session (Seoul, Republic of Korea, 15-24 October 1996).

During the past decade, however, rising costs of activities, reduced availability of resources in FAO, and the decline of support from donors has affected APFIC’s efforts to carry out needed regional programmes relevant to the conservation and rational management of fishery resources. Other constraints affecting the work of this Commission include the inability of several Members countries to support the participation of their representatives at sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, and the irregular attendance of some Members with marginal interest in the work of the Commission. Hence there is a need for the Members of APFIC to face their management responsibilities and take a more active role in the work of the Commission through greater commitment.

Overfishing of inshore and coastal fishing grounds is now experienced by most countries in the region and exploitation of the fishery resources in their EEZs is approaching and may reach full utilization within the next decade. Consequently, there is an urgent need to direct the work of regional fishery organizations such as APFIC towards resource conservation and fisheries management. Priority activities could include, inter alia, the identification, mapping and evaluation of shared and transboundary fish stocks; collaborative research effort in assessing the fisheries, including data standardization; and proposals to be adopted by member countries for joint management measures and protection of endangered species.

A framework for regional and sub-regional cooperation for the sustainable development of fisheries in the Asia-Pacific region therefore exists; but for this to work effectively the fisheries management mandate of APFIC must be strengthened and the activities of organizations concerned with fisheries in the region coordinated to ensure the optimum utilization of limited development assistance funds and to avoid the duplication of efforts.

CONCLUSIONS

Fisheries in most of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region is conducted by the small-scale fisheries sub-sector. This sub-sector produces food fish primarily for domestic consumption and thus plays a vital role in ensuring food security. The industrial or commercial fisheries sub-sector constitutes only a small part of the fisheries sector in these countries, but contributes substantially in terms of volume and value to their economies. High sea fisheries, targeting mainly tuna and tuna-like fishes, is still conducted mainly by distant-water fishing fleets from industrialized nations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. But the participation of coastal developing nations of the region in the high sea fisheries has increased during the past decade.

There has been a rising trend in fish production of the Asia-Pacific region during the period 1986-1995, with the total catch reaching 58.5 million tons in 1995, or 52 percent of the total world fishery production. Of this, approximately 42 million tons were contributed by marine capture fisheries and mariculture and 17 million tons by inland capture fisheries and inland aquaculture. However, the rate of increase of marine production during the past decade was significantly lower than that of inland fisheries, with inland aquaculture being the main contributor. The major contributors to this production increase were China, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

The substantial increasing demand for fish from within and outside the region by the year 2010, estimated at 24 million tons over the current level, will have implications on the sustainability of fishery resources. Any significant increase from marine capture fisheries is unlikely, as many coastal fish stocks of the region have been fully exploited or even overfished and need to be rehabilitated urgently. Many fish stocks migrate across national boundaries and there is an urgent need for collaborative efforts among the countries exploiting these resources to manage them to ensure their sustainability and conservation. In the high seas, whilst some tuna stocks in the western tropical Pacific could sustain further fisheries expansion, there are signs that the harvest of most principal market tuna species have reached the level of full exploitation. Increased catch of inland capture fisheries is also unlikely unless better resources and environmental management programmes are implemented. Aquaculture development has a higher potential to increase the fish production of the region, but better aquaculture and environmentally sustainable management is required to enhance production increase.

The majority of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region have fisheries management frameworks with varying degree of efficiency. However, the fisheries management systems in general need substantial improvement. The causes of ineffective fisheries management include the lack of clear objectives and mandates; the lack of budget, qualified personnel and facilities; and the lack of research information and reliable data to support management decisions.

An efficient management system requires reliable fisheries information and data bases; supportive research on exploited fish stocks and development of management options; and increased competence of the personnel involved in both the public and private sectors. Implementation of such schemes may be expensive, especially monitoring, control and surveillance. Regional and sub-regional cooperation can play a useful role in optimizing the costs of management operations and several ASEAN governments have expressed interest in cooperative efforts for managing transboundary fish stocks in the South China Sea.

As there are a number of regional and sub-regional bodies concerned with fisheries development and marine affairs in the Asia-Pacific region, a framework for cooperation in fisheries development and management exists, but close coordination among FAO and non-FAO regional fishery bodies is essential in order to reduce duplication of effort and avoid the wastage of limited development assistance funds.

The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) is in the process of reorienting its activities with increasing emphasis on fisheries management. The beneficial role of the Commission was reaffirmed by its Members at its last Session in 1996, but considering the urgent need to build up the management frameworks of the countries in their area of competence, APFIC should be further strengthened with stronger commitment and possible cost-sharing from its Members. APFIC, as a stronger management body, can assist the countries in the region in the management of fisheries not only under national jurisdiction but also vis-à-vis transboundary fish stocks and high sea fish stocks exploited in the South China Sea and its contiguous waters and in the western tropical Pacific.

Table 1. Numbers of fishers in Asia and the Pacific region^1/

^1/ FAO Fisheries Circular No. 929 (1997), Table T-2.

Notes:

^2/ Included unspecified status of 2,104,822.
^3/ Unspecified.

^1/ Preliminary data from FIDI, FAO, Rome.

Notes:

^2/ Including Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China
^3/ Low-income food-deficit countries.

^1/ FAO (1997). FAO Yearbook on Fishery Statistics: Catches and Landings 1995; and FISHSTAT 1996.

(× 1,000 metric tons)

Country or area		Marine2/		Inland2/		Total		Av. annual
		1986	1996	1986	1996	1986	1996	increase (%)3/
EAST ASIA:
* China4/		5,648	20,442	3,648	12,752	10,021	33,359	23.3
	- Hong Kong	(208)	(187)	(6)	(5)	(214)	(192)	(-1.0)
	- Taiwan Province of China	(922)	(1,070)	(161)	(160)	(1,086)	(1,230)	1.3
Japan		11,778	6,627	199	166	11,976	6,793	(-4.3)
* Korea, DPR.		1,600	1,685	101	115	1,701	1,800	0.6
Korea, Rep.		3,046	2,741	57	30	3,103	2,772	(-1.1)
Macau		8	1	-	-	8	1	(-8.2)
* Mongolia		-	-	0	0	0	0	(-5.0)
Subtotal (A)		22,080	31,495	4005	13,063	26,809	44,725	6.7
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ASIA:
* Bangladesh		207	279	589	985	797	1,264	5.8
* Bhutan		-	-	0	0	0	0	0
Brunei
Darussalam		4	7	0	0	4	7	8.3
* Cambodia		7	32	66	75	74	104	4.1
* India		1,731	2,928	1,206	2,332	2,937	5,260	7.9
* Indonesia		1,892	3,541	565	861	2,457	4,402	7.9
* Laos		-	-	26	40	26	40	5.5
Malaysia		818	1,213	9	27	827	1,248	5.0
* Maldives		59	106	-	-	59	106	7.8
Myanmar		535	635	151	237	686	873	2.7
* Nepal		-	-	9	22	9	22	13.3
* Pakistan		332	395	84	160	416	555	3.4
* Philippines		1,378	1,717	538	416	1,916	2,133	1.1
Singapore		21	13	0	0	21	13	(-3.7)
* Sri Lanka		146	214	35	18	182	232	2.8
Thailand		2,349	3,248	192	400	2,541	3,648	4.4
Vietnam		576	730	249	270	825	1,000.0	2.1
Subtotal (B)		10,055	15,058	3,719	5,843	13,777	20,907	5.2
SOUTH PACIFIC/OCEANIA:
American Samoa		0	0	0	0	0	0	20.0
Australia		178	213	2	4	180	205	2.0
Cook Islands		1	1	0	0	1	1	(-1.0)
Fiji		24	28	3	3	27	32	1.7
Fr. Polynesia		2	10	0	0	2	10	33.5
Guam		0	0	0	0	0	0	(-5.0)
* Kiribati		27	25	0	0	27	36	(-0.9)
Marshall Islands		0	0	0	0	0	0	5.0
Micronesia		3	9	0	0	3	9	16.6
Nauru		0	0	0	0	0	0	10.0
New Caledonia		4	3	0	0	4	3	(-1.2)
New Zealand		217	492	1	1	218	493	12.6
Niue		0	0	-	-	0	0	0
N. Marianas		0	0	0	0	0	0	(-0.3)
Palau		1	1	0	0	1	1	(-0.7)
* Papua New Guinea		11	13	14	14	25	26	0.4
* Samoa		3	1	0	0	3	1	(-7.8)
* Solomon Islands		55	53	0	0	55	53	(-0.4)
Tokelau		0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tonga		3	3	0	0	3	3	(-0.7)
* Tuvalu		1	0	-	-	1	0	(-4.3)
* Vanuatu		3.2	3	0	0	3	3	(-1.6)
Subtotal (C)		537	857	21	22	558	880	5.8
Total Asia-Pacific (A+B+C)		32,672	47,410	7,745	18,928	41,144	66,512	6.2
World Total		81,297	97,851	11,754	23,159	93,051	121,010	3.0
% Asia-Pacific		40.2	48.4	65.9	81.7	44.2	55.0

Notes:

^2/ Including aquaculture production (see Table 2).

^3/ These average increases based on 1986 and 1996 data for comparison only. They are not representing actual annual growth rate of fisheries in the countries concerned.

^4/ Including productions of Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China.

* Low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs).

(× 1,000 metric tons)

Country or area		Fish and Shellfish		Seaweeds		Total all Species
		19861/	19962/	19861/	19962/	1996
EAST ASIA:
China3/		3,845	17,985	1,297	5,420	23,405
	- Hong Kong	(9)	(8)	-	-	(8)
	- Taiwan Province of China	(257)	(262)	(9)	(10)	(272)
Japan		693	829	610	520	1,349
Korea, DPR.		47	75	503	381	456
Korea, Rep.		428	358	524	539	897
Subtotal (A)		5,013	19,248	2,934	6,860	26,107
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ASIA:
Bangladesh		134	390	-	-	390
Cambodia		2	10	-	-	10
India		686	1,768	-	-	1,768
Indonesia		333	672	77	108	780
Laos		5	14	-	-	14
Malaysia		52	109	-	-	109
Myanmar		6	68	-	-	68
Nepal		4	11	-	-	11
Pakistan		8	18	-	-	18
Philippines		302	343	169	631	974
Singapore		1	4	-	-	4
Sri Lanka		4	7	-	-	7
Thailand		134	510	-	-	510
Vietnam		131	189	2	7	196
Subtotal (B)		1,802	4,113	248	746	4,859
SOUTH PACIFIC:
Australia		9	25	-	-	25
New Zealand		17	72	-	-	72
Subtotal (C)		26	97	-	-	97
Total Asia-Pacific (A+B+C)		6,841	23,458	3,182	7,606	31,063
World Total		8,827	26,385	3,193	7,732	34,116
% Asia-Pacific		78.0	88.9	99.7	98.4	91.1

Notes:

^1/ FAO (1997). Aquaculture Production Statistics, 1986-1995. FAO, Rome. FAO Fisheries Circular No. 815, Revision 9.

^2/ FAO (1998). Aquaculture Production Statistics, 1987-1996. FAO, Rome. FAO Fisheries Circular No. 815, Revision 10.

^3/ Including those of Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China.

Appendix 2: Summary information on FAO regional fishery bodies

Body	Establishment	Headquarters	Membership	Area of competence	Main functions
GFCM General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean	1949 International Agreement under aegis of FAO (Article XIV of FAO Constitution)	Rome (Italy)	Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Romania, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and former Yugoslavia	Mediterranean, Black Sea and connecting waters	To promote the development, conservation and management of living marine resources; to formulate and recommend conservation measures; to encourage training cooperative projects.
APFIC Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission	1948 International Agreement under aegis of FAO (Article XIV of FAO Constitution)	Bangkok (Thailand)	Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (People’s Republic of), France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, USA, Vietnam	Indo-Pacific area (including inland waters)	To keep fishery resources under review; to formulate and recommend conservation and management measures; to keep under review the economic and social aspects of fishing; to encourage training and research.
IOTC Indian Ocean Tuna Commission	1993 International Agreement under aegis of FAO (Article XIV of FAO Constitution)	Victoria (Seychelles)	Eritrea, EC, India, Japan Korea (Rep. of), Madagascar, Mauritius, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, UK	Indian Ocean and adjacent seas north of the Antarctic Convergence	To promote cooperation in the conservation of tuna and tuna like species and also promote their optimum utilization, and the sustainable development of the fisheries.
IOFC Indian Ocean Fishery1 Commission	1967 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution)	Rome (Italy)	Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Rep. of), Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (Rep. of), Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of), Seychelles, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, UK, USA, Vietnam	Indian Ocean and adjacent seas (excluding the Antarctic area)	To promote programmes for fishery development and conservation; to promote research and development activities; to examine management problems with particular reference to offshore resources.
WECAFC Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission	1973 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution)	Bridgetown (Barbados)	Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA, Venezuela	Western Central Atlantic Ocean	To facilitate the coordination of research; to encourage education and training; to assist Member Governments in establishing rational policies, to promote the rational management of resources that are of interest for two or more countries.
CARPAS2 Regional Fisheries Advisory Commission for the Southwest Atlantic	1961 Resolution of FAO Conference (under Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution)	Rome (Italy)	Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay	Southwest Atlantic and inland waters of member countries	To develop organized approach among, members for the management and regional exploitation of marine and inland fishery resources; to encourage training and cooperative investigations.
EIFAC European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission	1957 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution)	Rome (Italy)	Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, EC, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK	Inland waters of Europe	To assist in the collection of information; to promote cooperation among governmental organizations; to advise on the development of inland fisheries.
COPESCAL Commission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America	1976 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution)	Santiago (Chile)	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela	Inland waters of Latin America	To promote research for the rational utilization of inland fishery resources; to assist in establishing scientific basis for regulatory measures; to assist in the development of aquaculture; to encourage education and training.
CECAF Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic	1967 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-2 of FAO Constitution)	Accra (Ghana)	Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, EC, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, USA, Zaire	Eastern Central Atlantic between Cape Spartel and the Congo River	To promote programmes of development for the rational utilization of fishery resources; to assist in establishing basis for regulatory measures; to encourage training.
CIFA Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa	1971 Resolution of FAO Council (under Article VI-2 of FAO Constitution)	Accra (Ghana)	Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe	Inland waters of Africa	To promote programmes of research for the rational utilization of inland fishery resources; to assist in establishing scientific basis for regulatory measures; to assist in the development of fish culture; to encourage education and training.

Source: Marashi, S.H. 1996. The role of FAO regional fishery bodies in the Conservation and Management of Fisheries. FAO Fisheries Circular No. 914. Rome, FAO, 45 pp.

¹ At its Twenty-ninth Session in November 1997, the FAO Conference recommended that IOFC be abolished. (FAO Conference Report, C97/REP, para. 148).

² CARPAS was abolished by the FAO Conference at its Twenty-ninth Session (1997) (FAO Conference Report, C97/REP, para. 148).

Appendix 3: Terms of reference of the APFIC consultant

1. To conduct a study on the activities and achievements of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) since its establishment in 1948 to present, with emphasis on its contribution to fisheries and aquaculture development in the region;

2. To discuss with the Chairman of APFIC and selected APFIC Members the future direction of the Commission;

3. To analyse and recommend measures to be taken by Member Nations and FAO in order to strengthen the regional implementation of recent global fisheries-related initiatives and instruments; and

4. To prepare a comprehensive report on the above study for further consideration by the APFIC Member Nations and FAO.

Appendix 4: APFIC Agreement

ASIA-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION (APFIC)

Agreement as last amended at the Twenty-Fifth Session of the Commission (Seoul, Republic of Korea, 15-24 October 1996) and approved by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Twelfth Session
(Rome, Italy, 2-7 June 1997)

PREAMBLE

The contracting Governments having a mutual interest in the development and proper utilization of the living aquatic resources of the Asia-Pacific area and desiring to further the attainment of these ends through international cooperation by the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

The Commission

1. The contracting Governments agree to establish within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (hereinafter referred to as “the Organization”) a Commission to be known as the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission, for the purpose of carrying out the functions and duties hereinafter set forth in Article IV.

2. The Members of the Commission shall be such Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization and such non-member States of the Organization as are Members of the United Nations, or any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency that accept this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Article X thereof. As regards Associate Members, this Agreement shall, in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV-5 of the Constitution and Rule XXI-3 of the General Rules of the Organization be submitted by the Organization to the authority having responsibility for the international relations of such Associate Members.

ARTICLE II

Organization

1. Each Member shall be represented at sessions of the Commission by a single delegate, who may be accompanied by an alternate and by experts and advisers. Participation in sessions of the Commission by alternates, experts and advisers shall not entail the right to vote, except in the place of a delegate during his absence.

2. Each Member shall have one vote. Decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast, except when a greater majority is required by this Agreement or by the Rules governing the procedure of the Commission. A majority of the total membership of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

3. The Commission shall at each regular session elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman who shall serve until the end of the next regular session.

4. The Chairman of the Commission in consultation with the Director-General of the Organization shall convene a regular session of the Commission at least once in every two years unless otherwise directed by a majority of the Members. The site and date of all sessions shall be determined by the Commission in consultation with the Director-General of the Organization.

5. The seat of the Commission shall be at the seat of the Regional Office of the Organization most conveniently situated within the area defined in Article VI.

6. The Organization shall provide the Secretariat for the Commission and the Director-General shall appoint its Secretary, who shall be administratively responsible to him.

7. The Commission may, by a two-thirds majority of its membership, adopt and amend its own Rules of Procedure provided that such Rules of Procedure or the amendments thereto are not inconsistent with this Agreement or with the Constitution of the Organization.

ARTICLE III

Committees and working parties

1. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the immediately retired Chairman and two members elected by the Commission. In the unavoidable absence of one or two members of the Executive Committee from a Committee session, the Chairman shall have the power to co-opt the chairman of one or two of the committees which may from time to time be established in accordance with the Rules governing the procedure of the Commission, at his discretion, to substitute the absent Committee member or members for that Committee session only, provided that two permanent members of the Executive Committee shall always be present and that the number of voting members attending the Committee session shall in no case exceed five.

2. The Commission may in addition establish temporary, special or standing committees to study and report on matters pertaining to the purpose of the Commission.

3. The Commission may establish working parties to study and recommend on specific technical problems. These working parties shall be convened by the Director-General of the Organization at such times and places as are in accordance with the objectives for which they were established.

4. The establishment of committees and working parties referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 above shall be subject to the availability of the necessary funds in the relevant chapter of the approved budget of the Organization; the determination of such availability shall be made by the Director-General. Before taking any decision involving expenditures in connexion with the establishment of committees and working parties, the Commission shall have before it a report from the Director-General on the administrative and financial implications thereof.

ARTICLE IV

Functions

The purpose of the Commission shall be to promote the full and proper utilization of living aquatic resources by the development and management of fishing and culture operations and by the development of related processing and marketing activities in conformity with the objectives of its Members, and to these ends it shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

(a) to keep under review the state of these resources and of the industries based on them;

(b) to formulate and recommend measures and to initiate and carry out programmes or projects to,

(i) increase the efficiency and sustainable productivity of fisheries and aquaculture;
(ii) conserve and manage resources;
(iii) protect resources from pollution;

(c) to keep under review the economic and social aspects of fishing and aquaculture industries and recommend measures aimed at improving the living and working conditions of fishermen and other workers in these industries and otherwise at improving the contribution of each fishery to social and economic goals;

(d) to promote programmes for mariculture and coastal fisheries enhancement;

(e) to encourage, recommend, coordinate and, as appropriate, undertake training and extension activities in all aspects of fisheries;

(f) to encourage, recommend, coordinate and undertake, as appropriate, research and development activities in all respects of fisheries;

(g) to assemble, publish or otherwise disseminate information regarding the living aquatic resources and fisheries based on these resources;

(h) to carry out such other activities as may be necessary for the Commission to achieve its purpose as defined above.

ARTICLE V

Reports

The Commission shall transmit after each session to the Director General of the Organization a report embodying its views, recommendations and decisions, and make such other reports to the Director-General of the Organization as may seem to it necessary or desirable. Reports of the committees and working parties of the Commission provided for in Article III of this Agreement shall be transmitted to the Director-General through the Commission.

ARTICLE VI

Area

The Commission shall carry out the functions and responsibilities set forth in Article IV in the Asia-Pacific Area.

ARTICLE VII

Cooperation with international bodies

The Commission shall cooperate closely with other international bodies in matters of mutual interest.

ARTICLE VIII

Expenses

1. The expenses of delegates and their alternates, experts and advisers occasioned by attendance at sessions of the Commission and the expenses of representatives on committees or working parties established in accordance with Article III of this Agreement shall be determined and paid by their respective governments.

2. The expenses of the Secretariat, including publications and communications, and of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the immediately retired Chairman of the Commission and of the other two members of the Executive Committee when performing duties connected with the Commission’s work during intervals between its sessions, shall be determined and paid by the Organization within the limits of a biennial budget prepared and approved in accordance with the Constitution, the General Rules and Financial Regulations of the Organization.

3. The expenses of research or development projects undertaken by individual Members of the Commission, whether independently or upon the recommendation of the Commission, shall be determined and paid by their respective governments.

4. The expenses incurred in connexion with activities undertaken in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, paragraphs (e) and (f), unless otherwise available shall be determined and paid by the Members in the form and proportion to which they shall mutually agree. Cooperative projects shall be submitted to the Council of the Organization prior to implementation. Contributions for cooperative projects shall be paid into a trust fund to be established by the Organization and shall be administered by the Organization in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the Organization.

5. The expenses of experts invited, with the concurrence of the Director-General, to attend meetings of the Commission, committees or working parties in their individual capacity shall be borne by the budget of the Organization.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

The Commission may amend this Agreement by a two-thirds majority of all the Members of the Commission. Amendments to this Agreement shall be reported to the Council of the Organization which shall have the power to disallow them if it finds that such amendments are inconsistent with the objectives and purposes of the Organization or the provisions of the Constitution of the Organization. If the Council of the Organization considers it desirable, it may refer these amendments to the Conference of the Organization which shall have the same power. However, any amendment involving new obligations for Members shall come into force with respect to each Member only on acceptance of it by that Member. The instruments of acceptance of amendments involving new obligations shall be deposited with the Director-General of the Organization, who shall inform all the Members of the Commission as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the receipt of acceptances and the entry into force of such amendments. The rights and obligations of any Member of the Commission that has not accepted an amendment involving additional obligations shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Agreement as they stood prior to the amendment.

ARTICLE X

Acceptance

1. This Agreement shall be open to acceptance by Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization.

2. The Commission may, by a two-thirds majority of its membership, admit to membership such other States that are Members of the United Nations, of any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency as have submitted an application for membership and a declaration made in a formal instrument that they accept this Agreement as in force at the time of admission. Participation by such States in the activities of the Commission shall be contingent upon the assumption of a proportionate share in the expenses of the Secretariat, as determined by the Organization.

3. Acceptance of this Agreement by any Member Nation or Associate Member of the Organization shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Director-General of the Organization and shall take effect on receipt of such instrument by the Director-General.

4. Acceptance of this Agreement by non-member nations of the Organization shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Director-General of the Organization. Membership shall become effective on the date on which the Commission approves the application for membership, in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article.

5. The Director-General of the Organization shall inform all Members of the Commission, all Member Nations of the Organization and the Secretary-General of the United Nations of all acceptances that have become effective.

6. Acceptance of this Agreement may be made subject to reservations, which shall become effective only upon unanimous approval by the Members of the Commission. The Director-General of the Organization shall notify forthwith all Members of the Commission of any reservations. Members of the Commission not having replied within three months from the date of the notification shall be deemed to have accepted the reservation. Failing such approval the nation making the reservation shall not become a party to this Agreement.

ARTICLE XI

Entry into force

This Agreement shall enter into force upon the date of receipt of the fifth instrument of acceptance.

ARTICLE XII

Territorial application

The Members of the Commission shall, when accepting this Agreement, state explicitly to which territories their participation shall extend. In the absence of such a declaration, participation shall be deemed to apply to all the territories for the international relations of which the Member is responsible. Subject to the provisions of Article XIII below, the scope of the territorial application may be modified by a subsequent declaration.

ARTICLE XIII

Withdrawal

1. Any Member may withdraw from this Agreement at any time after the expiration of two years from the date upon which the Agreement entered into force with respect to that Member, by giving the written notice of such withdrawal to the Director-General of the Organization, who shall immediately inform of such withdrawal all the Members of the Commission and the Member Nations of the Organization as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Notice of withdrawal shall become effective three months from the date of its receipt by the Director-General.

2. A Member of the Commission may give notice of withdrawal with respect to one or more of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible. When a Member gives notice of its own withdrawal from the Commission, it shall state to which territory or territories the withdrawal is to apply. In the absence of such a declaration, the withdrawal shall be deemed to apply to all the territories for the international relations of which the Member of the Commission is responsible, except that such withdrawal shall not be deemed to apply to an Associate Member.

3. Any Member of the Commission that gives notice of withdrawal from the Organization shall be deemed to have simultaneously withdrawn from the Commission and this withdrawal shall be deemed to apply to all the territories for the international relations of which the Member concerned is responsible, except that such withdrawal shall not be deemed to apply to an Associate Member.

ARTICLE XIV

Interpretation and settlement of disputes

Any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement, if not settled by the Commission, shall be referred to a committee composed of one member appointed by each of the parties to the dispute, and in addition an independent chairman chosen by the members of the committee. The recommendations of such a committee, while not binding in character, shall become the basis for renewed consideration by the parties concerned of the matter out of which the disagreement arose. If as the result of this procedure the dispute is not settled, it shall be referred to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the Statute of the Court, unless the parties to the dispute agree to another method of settlement.

ARTICLE XV

Termination

This Agreement shall be considered terminated if and when the number of Members of the Commission drops below five unless the remaining Members of the Commission unanimously decide otherwise.

ARTICLE XVI

Certification and registration

The text of this Agreement was originally formulated at Baguio the 26th day of February one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, in the English language. Two copies in the English and French languages of this Agreement as amended shall be certified by the Director-General of the Organization. One of these copies shall be deposited in the archives of the Organization. The other copy shall be transmitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration. In addition, the Director-General shall certify copies of this Agreement and transmit one copy to each Member Nation of the Organization and to such non-member nations of the Organization that may become parties to this Agreement.

ASIA-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION

RULES OF PROCEDURE*

* As amended by the Commission at its Twenty-Fifth Session and concurred by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Twelfth Session.

RULE I

For the purpose of these Rules, the following definitions apply:

Agreement:

The Agreement for the Establishment of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission formulated at Baguio, Philippines, 26th February 1948 as amended in conformity with Article IX thereof

Commission:

The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission

Chairman:

The Chairman of the Commission

Delegate:

The representative of a Member as specified in Article II-1 of the Agreement

Delegation:

The delegate and his alternate, experts and advisers

Member:

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization and non-member states of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, or any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency

Secretary:

The Secretary of the Commission

Organization:

The Food and Agriculture Organization

Conference:

The Conference of the Organization

Director-General:

The Director-General of the Organization

Observer Nation, Associate Member or organization:

A non-member of the Organization or international organization invited to attend a session of the Commission or a Member Nation or Associate Member of the Organization attending a session of the Commission while not a Member of the Commission

Observer:

The representative of an Observer Nation, Associate Member or organization

Session:

A properly convened continuing assemblage of delegates which may be adjourned from day to day

Meeting:

A period of a session during which delegates do not separate except for a short recess

RULE II

Sessions of the Commission

1. In pursuance of, and in accordance with, Article II-4 of the Agreement, the Commission, in consultation with the Director-General, shall at each session consider whether a session should be held in the second year following and shall decide the time and place for the next session in accordance with the requirements of the Commission’s programmes and the terms of the invitation of the country in which the session is to be held. The Chairman, accordingly, shall issue the announcement of the session, provided that, if the Commission at a regular session is unable to fix a time and place for the next session, it shall, in consultation with the Director-General, take a decision as to the calendar year in which the next session is to be held, and the Chairman, in consultation with the Director-General, is then authorized to fix the time and place of the session, provided that the approval of the majority of the Members of the Commission has been secured.

2. The Chairman, in consultation with the Director-General, may call a special session of the Commission at:

(a) the direction of the Commission;

(b) the direction of the Executive Committee with the approval of a majority of the Members; or

(c) the request of a majority of the Members.

3. Invitations to a regular session of the Commission shall be issued not less than sixty days in advance of the date fixed for the opening of the session. Invitations to special sessions shall be issued not less than forty days in advance of the date fixed for opening of the session.

RULE III

Agenda

1. The Agenda of each regular session shall include:

(a) Adoption of the Agenda;

(b) The election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman as provided for under Article II-3 of the Agreement and the election of two members of the Executive Committee as provided for in Article III-1 of the Agreement;

(c) A report of the Executive Committee on its activities during the intersessional period, including a report of the work performed on behalf of the Commission by the Secretariat;

(d) A report by the Secretary on the financial affairs of the Commission;

(e) Consideration of the proposed budget for the ensuing two years;

(f) Proposals for amendments, if any, to the Agreement, in accordance with Article IX of the Agreement and the provisions of Rule XIV of these Rules;

(g) Applications for membership, if any, in accordance with Article X-2 of the Agreement from States which are not members of the Organization;

(h) Reports of Committees;

(i) Consideration of the time and place of the next session;

(j) Items, if any, referred to the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission by the Conference, Council or the Director-General of the Organization.

(a) Items approved at the previous session;
(b) Items proposed by the Executive Committee;
(c) Items proposed by a Member.

4. The agenda of a special session shall consist only of items relating to the purpose for which the session was called.

RULE IV

The Secretariat

1. The Secretariat shall consist of the Secretary and such staff responsible to him as may be determined by the Director-General and shall provide secretarial services for the Commission.

2. The duties of the Secretary shall include the receipt, collation and circulation of documents, reports and resolutions of the sessions of the Commission and its committees, the preparation of the records of their proceedings, the certification of expenditures and financial commitments and the performance of such other duties as the Commission or the Executive Committee may direct.

3. The originator shall send to the Secretary, for information and record, copies of correspondence concerning the affairs of the Commission.

RULE V

Plenary Meetings of the Commission

Plenary meetings of the Commission shall be held in public unless otherwise decided by the Commission. When the Commission decides to hold a private meeting, it shall at the same time determine the scope of such a decision with respect to observers.

RULE VI

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman and of other members of the Executive Committee

1. The Commission shall, during each regular session, elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission who shall serve until the end of the next regular session.

2. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall assume office at the end of the regular session in which they are elected. They shall be eligible for re-election.

3. The Commission shall, during each regular session, also elect the two members of the Executive Committee referred to in Article III-1 of the Agreement.

RULE VII

Functions of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman

1. The Chairman shall exercise the functions conferred on him elsewhere in these Rules, and in particular shall:

(a) Declare the opening and closing of each plenary meeting of the Commission;

(b) Direct the discussions at such meetings and ensure observance of these Rules, accord the right to speak, put questions and announce decisions;

(c) Rule on points of order;

(d) Subject to these Rules, have complete control over the proceedings of plenary meetings;

(e) Appoint such ad hoc committees of the session as the Commission may direct.

RULE VIII

Voting Arrangements and Procedures

1. Except as provided in para. 4 of this Rule, voting in plenary meetings shall be oral or by show of hands, except that a vote by roll call shall be taken if a special majority is required by the Agreement of these Rules, or if a request of a vote by roll call is made by any delegation.

2. A vote by roll call shall be conducted by calling upon delegations in the English alphabetical order of the respective Members.

3. The record of any roll call vote shall show the votes cast by each delegation and by abstentions.

4. Voting on matters relating to individuals, except the election of officers, shall be by secret ballot.

5. When no nominee for an office obtains on the first ballot a majority of the votes cast, there shall be taken a second ballot confined to two candidates obtaining the largest number of votes. If, on the second ballot, the votes are equally divided, the Chairman shall decide between the candidates by drawing lots.

6. If the Commission is equally divided when a vote is taken on a question other than an election, a second vote shall be taken at the next meeting of the current session. If the Commission is then again equally divided, the proposal shall be regarded as rejected.

7. If the quorum of a two-thirds majority of all the Members of the Commission is not present at the time of the vote on a proposed amendment to the Agreement, as provided for in Article IX of the Agreement, the Commission may decide that absent Members be informed thereof and requested to vote by a written communication addressed to the Director-General of FAO within ninety days of the closing of the Session at which the proposal was put to vote, provided, however, that the vote must be either affirmative or negative and will not be valid if it were conditional. Such amendments will be considered as adopted only when the required majority has been obtained.

8. Voting arrangements and other related matters not specifically provided for by the Agreement or by these Rules shall be governed “mutatis mutandis”, by the provisions of the General Rules of the Organization.

RULE IX

Committees

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the immediately retired Chairman and two members elected by the Commission. The Secretary shall be an ex-officio member without vote. The Chairman shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall:

(a) Meet at least once a year between regular sessions;

(b) In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere under these Rules, direct the conduct of the business and affairs of the Commission between its sessions, except that issues of policy, unless previously decided by the Commission shall be formulated by the Executive Committee as a motion and referred to the Members. Upon receipt by the Secretary of affirmative replies from a majority of the Members, the motion shall be considered adopted;

(c) Prepare estimates of expenses for the next succeeding two years for presentation to the Commission for submission to the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII-2 of the Agreement;

(d) Co-ordinate the work of the committees and working parties;

(e) Function as an editorial and publications committee.

(a) The terms of reference of such committees and working parties shall be laid down by the Commission at the time of their establishment.

(b) Each committee or working party shall select a chairman from among its members, who shall act as rapporteur.

(c) The committees and working parties shall report to the Commission through the Executive Committee either at the session at which they were appointed or at the next regular session, according to their terms of reference, and the Commission shall then decide whether or not they shall continue to operate during the ensuing period.

(d) The committees and working parties may from time to time set up such sub-committees as may be required to comply effectively with their terms of reference as laid down by the Commission.

4. Each committee or working party may adopt and amend its own rules of procedure, which shall be consistent with the Rules of Procedure of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission and the General Rules of the Organization. Such rules of procedure shall come into force upon approval by the Commission. In the absence of rules of procedure, the Rules of Procedure of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission shall apply “mutatis mutandis” to its committees and working parties.

RULE X

Budget and finance

1. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the Financial Regulations of the Organization, as implemented by the financial rules, Manual and memoranda and the procedures based thereon, shall apply to the Commission.

2. A proposed budget of the Commission for the next two succeeding financial years consisting of proposed expenses of the Secretariat, including publications and communications, and of the proposed travelling expenses of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, the immediately retired Chairman and the two other members of the Executive Committee when engaged in the work of the Commission between its sessions shall, after approval by the Commission, be submitted to the Director-General for consideration in the preparation of the general budget estimates of the Organization.

3. When adopted by the Conference in its biennial session as part of the general budget of the Organization, the budget of the Commission shall constitute the limits within which funds may be committed for purposes approved by the Conference.

RULE XI

Participation by observers

1. Members and Associate Members of the Organization that are not Members of the Commission may, upon their request, be represented by an observer at sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies in an observer capacity, in accordance with the Statement of Principles adopted by the Conference relating to the granting of observer status to nations.

2. States that are not Members of the Commission nor Members or Associate Members of the Organization, but are Members of the United Nations, of any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may, upon request, and with the approval of the Council of the Organization and of the Commission, attend sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies in an observer capacity, in accordance with the Statement of Principles adopted by the Conference relating to the granting of observer status to nations.

3. Participation of international organizations in the work of the Commission and the relations between the Commission and such organizations shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the General Rules of the Organization as well as by the rules and relations with international organizations adopted by the Conference or Council of the Organization.

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 above, the Commission and its subsidiary bodies may elect to hold meetings in private, without the attendance of observers. Except in these circumstances, observers may participate fully in the discussions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

5. In the furtherance of the activities provided for in Article IV (e) and (f) of the Agreement, arrangements may be made with governments that are not Members of the Commission.

RULE XII

Reports and recommendations

1. At each session, the Commission shall approve a report embodying its views, recommendations, resolutions and decisions, including, when requested, a statement of minority views.

2. The conclusions and recommendations of the Commission shall be transmitted to the Director-General of the Organization at the close of each session, who shall as soon as possible after the session circulate them through the Secretary to Members of the Commission, nations, Associate Members and international organizations that were represented at the session and make them available to other Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization for their information.

3. Recommendations having policy, programme or financial implications for the Organization shall be brought by the Director-General to the attention of the Conference through the Council of the Organization for appropriate action.

4. The Director-General may request Members of the Commission to supply the Commission or the Director-General with information on action taken on the basis of recommendations made by the Commission.

5. Pending the formal transmission of the reports of the committees and working parties, as provided for in Article V of the Agreement, the Director-General may, at the request of the Executive Committee, transmit informally these reports to the Members of the Commission.

6. Reports of committees, technical papers and other documents shall be published as the Executive Committee may consider practicable.

RULE XIII

Recommendations to Members

1. The Commission may make recommendations for action by Members on any matters pertaining to the functions described in Article IV of the Agreement.

2. The Secretary shall receive on behalf of the Commission the replies of the Members in respect of such recommendations and shall prepare a summary and an analysis of such communication for presentation at the next session.

RULE XIV

Amendments to the Agreement

1. Proposals for the amendment of the Agreement as provided by Article IX of the Agreement may be made by any Member in a communication addressed to the Secretary. The Secretary shall transmit to all Members and to the Director-General a copy of such proposals for amendment immediately upon their receipt.

2. No action on a proposal for the amendment of the Agreement shall be taken by the Commission at any session unless it has been included in the provisional agenda of the session.

RULE XV

Suspension and Amendment of Rules

1. Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, any of the foregoing Rules, other than Rules III, IV, X, XI, XII and XIV, may be suspended on the motion of any delegation by a two-thirds majority of the votes at any plenary meeting of the Commission, provided that announcement is made at a plenary meeting and copies of the proposal for suspension have been distributed to the delegations not less than 48 hours before the meeting at which action is to be taken.

2. Amendments of, or additions to, these Rules may be adopted on the motion of any delegation by a two-thirds majority of the membership of the Commission at any plenary meeting of the Commission, provided that an announcement is made at a plenary meeting and copies of the proposal for the amendment or addition have been distributed to delegations not less than 24 hours before the meeting at which action is to be taken.

3. The Executive Committee may propose amendments and additions to these Rules, and any such proposals may be considered at the next session of the Commission.

4. Any amendment to Rule XIV, which may be adopted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Rule, shall not become effective until the next session of the Commission.

RULE XVI

Official languages

The official languages of the Commission shall be English and French¹.

Appendix 5: Attendance of Member Governments at APFIC Sessions, 1949-1996

Date of Adherence

Member Governments

Session

1949

1950

1951

1952

1954

1955

1957

1958

1961

1962

1964

1966

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

10.03.49

Australia

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

17.07.74

Bangladesh

19.01.51

Cambodia

+

+

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

31.01.49

China1/

+

+

-

30.06.48

France

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

09.11.48

India

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

29.05.30

Indonesia

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

-

-

-

03.10.52

Japan

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

19.01.50

Korea, Rep. of

0

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

15.09.58

Malaysia

+

+

-

+

+

01.01.49

Myanmar

-

-

-

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

23.03.78

Nepal

12.11.48

Netherlands2/

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

0

-

12.08.66

New Zealand

+

01.08.49

Pakistan

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

+

-

+

-

23.07.48

Philippines

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

21.02.49

Sri Lanka

+

-

+

-

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

06.10.48

Thailand

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

28.02.49

United Kingdom

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

03.09.48

USA

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

03.01.51

Vietnam

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

0

+

+

Remarks: + Present; - Absent; 0 Observer
^1/Withdrew in January 1951 and rejoin in 1993
^2/Withdrew, January 1974

Remarks: + Present; - Absent; 0 Observer
^1/Withdrew in January 1951 and rejoin in 1993
^2/Withdrew, January 1974
^3/To be convened in September 1998

Appendix 6: Venues, dates and officers of APFIC Sessions and of the Executive Committee

Session	Chairman	Vice-Chairman	Member(s)
First Session: Singapore 24-31 March 1949	Baini Prasad (India)	J.D.F. Hardenberg (Netherlands)
Second Session: Cronulla, Australia 17-28 April 1950	J.D.F. Hardenberg (Netherlands)	D.V. Villadolid (Philippines)
Third Session: Madras, India 1-16 February 1951	D.V. Villadolid (Philippines)	R. Serene (France)
Fourth Session: Quezon City, Philippines 23 October-7 November 1952	R. Serene (France)	Boon Indrambarya (Thailand)
Fifth Session: Bangkok, Thailand 22 January-5 February 1954	R. Serene (France)	Boon Indrambarya (Thailand)
Sixth Session: Tokyo, Japan 30 September-14 October 1955	Boon Indrambarya (Thailand)	J.A. Tubb (UK)
Seventh Session: Bandung, Indonesia 13-27 May 1957	N.K. Panikkar (India)	D.J. Rochford (Australia)
Eighth Session: Colombo, Sri Lanka 6-22 December 1958	Katsuzo Kuronuma (Japan)	Tham Ah Kow (UK)
Ninth Session: Karachi, Pakistan 6-23 January 1961	Tran Van Tri (Vietnam)	D.T.E.A. de Fonseka (Sri Lanka)	Boon Indrambarya (Thailand)
Tenth Session: Seoul, Republic of Korea 10-25 October 1962	Choong Shik Min (Republic of Korea)	M.R. Qureshi (Pakistan)	Katsuzo Kuronuma (Japan)
Eleventh Session: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 16-31 October 1964	K. Gopinantha Pillai (India)	Kim Myung Nyum (Republic of Korea)	Tran Van Tri (Vietnam)
Twelfth Session: Honolulu, USA 3-17 October 1966	Bong Nai Lee (Republic of Korea)	Soong Min Kong (Malaysia)	K. Gopinantha Pillai (India)
Fourteenth Session: Bangkok, Thailand 18-27 November 1970	J.C. Marr (USA)	C.G. Setter1 (Australia)	Soong Min Kong (Malaysia)
Fifteenth Session: Wellington, New Zealand 18-27 October 1972	B.T. Cunningham (New Zealand)	Prida Karnasut (Thailand)	C.G. Setter (Australia)
Sixteenth Session: Jakarta, Indonesia 30 October-8 November 1974	Nizam Zachman (Indonesia)	Y.M. Tengku Ubaidillah (Malaysia)	B.T. Cunningham (New Zealand)
Seventeenth Session: Colombo, Sri Lanka 1-5 November 1974	A.S. Mendis (Sri Lanka)	F.R. Gonzales (Philippines)	Nizam Zachman (Indonesia)
Eighteenth Session: Manila, Philippines 8-17 March 1978	F.R. Gonzales (Philippines)	S.P. Balasubramanian (India)	A. Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Nineteenth Session: Kyoto, Japan 21-30 May 1980	Kunio Yonezawa (Japan)	Y.M. Tengku Ubaidillah (Malaysia)	M. Youssouf Ali (Bangladesh) G.D. Waugh (New Zealand)
Twentieth Session: Bali, Indonesia 11-18 November 1982	Tengku Dato Ubaidillah (Malaysia)	Adm. Abdul Rachman (Indonesia)	K.G. Rajbanshi (Nepal) W. Gordon (USA)
Twenty-first Session: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 10-13 December 1984	Tengku Dato Ubaidillah (Malaysia)	A.C. Byrne (Australia)	R. Shomura (USA) Philippines India
Twenty-second Session: Darwin, Australia 16-26 February 1987	M. Blamey (Australia)	R.S. Shomura (USA)	A.Q. Choudhury (Bangladesh) Abdul Rachman (Indonesia)
Twenty-third Session: Colombo, Sri Lanka 14-24 May 1990	N.V.K.K. Weragoda (Sri Lanka)	K. Imamura (Japan)	P. Martosubroto (Indonesia) V. Hongskul (Thailand)
Twenty-fourth Session: Bangkok, Thailand 23 November-4 December 1993	Plodprasop Suraswadi (Thailand)	M. Shaupib. Derahman (Malaysia)	David Barnes (Australia) Gary Matlock (USA)
Twenty-fifth Session: Seoul, Republic of Korea 15-24 October 1996	Kyo-Seok Park (Republic of Korea)	Dennis Araullo (Philippines)	A.M. Djoko Sugiarto (Indonesia) Yasuhiko Shimazu (Japan)
Twenty-Sixth Session: Beijing, China 24-30 September 1998	Zhuo Youzhan (China)	N. Rama Rao (India)	Glen Hurry (Australia) Hashim bin Ahmad (Malaysia)