 | Objective |  | |
| The main objective of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) is to promote the full and proper utilization of living aquatic resources of the Asia Pacific area 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. |
| Functions | | |
To these ends the Commission has the following functions and responsibilities:- to keep under review the state of the resources under its competence and of the industries based on them;
- to formulate and recommend measures and to initiate and carry out programmes or projects to:
- increase the efficiency and sustainable productivity of fisheries and aquaculture;
- conserve and manage resources;
- protect resources from pollution;
- 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;
- to promote programmes for mariculture and coastal fisheries enhancement;
- to encourage, recommend, coordinate and, as appropriate, undertake training and extension activities in all aspects of fisheries;
- to encourage, recommend, coordinate and undertake, as appropriate, research and development activities in all aspects of fisheries;
- to assemble, publish or otherwise disseminate information regarding the living aquatic resources and fisheries based on these resources.
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| Area of Competence | | |
The Commission carries out its functions and responsibilities in the Asia Pacific Area. In 1999, the functions of the former Indian Ocean Fishery Commission (IOFC) in the Bay of Bengal were merged into APFIC (approved by FAO Council Resolution 1/116).
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| Species and stocks coverage | | |
| Both marine and inland aquatic resources of the Asia-Pacific Area. |
| Legal Framework | | |
The Agreement for the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission was concluded under the aegis of FAO (Article XIV of the FAO Constitution). It was drawn up by the Governments concerned at Baguio, Philippines, in February 1948 and approved by the FAO Conference at its Fourth Session on 26 February 1948. The Agreement entered into force on 9 November 1948 and was amended in 1958, 1961, 1977, 1994 and 1996. The 1977 amendment changed the name of the title from Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council to Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission. The 1994 amendments included the change of the title to Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission. The scope of the 1997 amendment was to reinforce and update the terms of reference of the Commission.
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