The RECOFI Workshop on Social and Economic Aspects of Fisheries in the RECOFI region was held in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain from 22 to 24 April 2012, following the agreement at the sixth session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries held in Rome from 10 to 12 May 2011. The meeting was convened by the RECOFI Secretary. The meeting was attended by 18 delegates from four member countries and two observers, as well as the RECOFI Secretariat. The workshop discussed the social and economic aspects of fisheries in RECOFI, reviewed the availability of data on the socio-economic statistics, analysis work and other relevant research activities in member countries and formulated a RECOFI action plan for regional cooperation in assessment of socioeconomic aspects through identifying regional socio-economic indicators to be used at both national and regional levels. The integration of the human dimension, including the social and economic aspects, is essential in the context of the ecosystem approach of fisheries management. For this purpose, it was recognized that key issues in social and economic aspects in the management of fisheries and of the people fishing in the region must be identified together with necessary information indicators to monitor their status. The workshop concluded, among other things, that there is a need to enhance the collection of socio-economic information with a matter of priority by the member countries, and recommended that an applicable, practical and useful work plan on socio-economic work should be formulated to support technical capacity development to advance knowledge and that social and economic aspects must be integrated and incorporated into the RECOFI fisheries management framework to ensure a more holistic approach in line with the ecosystem approach.