1. The Executive Committee of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) held its Sixty-ninth Session at the Garden Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand from 15 to 16 December 2003 under the Chairpersonship of Mr Jaranthada Karnasuta, Chairperson, and Mr M.K.R. Nair, Vice-Chairperson. The list of the participants is given as Appendix A.
2. At the opening of the Session, the outgoing Chairperson, Mr Malcolm Sarmiento welcomed the Members of the Executive Committee and the Committee heartily welcomed Mr Staples as the new Secretary of APFIC and wished him every success in his professional career with the Commission as its new Secretary. The outgoing Chairperson noted that Mr Veravat Hongskul, the former Secretary and concurrently Senior Regional Fishery Officer of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, had retired from service in December 2002. Mr Sarmiento acknowledged, on behalf of the Committee, the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of Mr Hongskul during his tenure as Secretary of the Commission. He confirmed Mr Hongskul’s belief in the important role of the Commission as a Regional Fishery Body for improving management and sustainable development in the region’s fisheries. He stressed that in order to effectively fulfill this role, APFIC would require adequate support, a clear mission and more active interest and participation of the member countries.
3. The Chairperson then addressed the Committee to thank them for the privilege of being appointed Chairperson and reiterated Thailand’s strong support to APFIC and the importance for its future role in supporting the fisheries of the region.
4. Mr Ben Satia, on behalf of the Director-General and the Assistant Director-General (Fisheries) of FAO, welcomed the participants and expressed FAO’s expectations for a fruitful meeting. He stated that with the changing conditions in world fisheries and the emergence of a number of regional fisheries bodies and management in the region, the Commission must change its role and become more proactive.
5. The new APFIC Secretary, Mr Derek Staples, who took up his position in September 2003, also addressed the Committee. He stated that APFIC was at a turning point in its history as it re-evaluated its future role and the need for constructive dialogue at the Sixty-ninth Session of the Executive Committee. He emphasized his commitment to help lead the Commission in any new direction as chosen by the Executive Committee.
