First Global Record expert workshop for Southeast Asia held in Manila
Delegations from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the first expert workshop on the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels (Global Record) in the Southeast Asian region, held in Manila, The Philippines (25-27 June 2013).
The workshop provided an opportunity for collaboration between FAO and RPOA (Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices Including to Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Region) to further advance the national fishing vessel registers of RPOA's member States, including the further development of a regional record, as the Members prepare to enter the Global Record.
The workshop was designed to provide in-depth assessment of the status of the existing national registers and work with the countries on ways of improving them in a harmonized fashion. An initial stage work-plan was developed during the workshop, mapping out actions needed.
The RPOA is well placed in the Southeast Asian region to make progress on the Global Record since the region has already made progress towards its own regional register and has a number of structural initiatives in operation.
The workshop was hosted by the Government of Philippines and financed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).