1. The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) held its Twenty-seventh Session from 19 to 21 September 2001 at the Dusit Hotel Nikko, Manila, Republic of the Philippines. The Session was attended by the representatives of 18 Members of the Commission and by observers from the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). A list of the delegates and observers is attached as Appendix A.
2. At the official opening of the Session, the Commission was welcomed by the Chairman of APFIC, Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. He recalled the unanimous view of the APFIC Members at the last Session that the Commission’s various initiatives and programmes had favourably shaped their governments’ fishery development approaches, resource conservation strategies and long-term policy formulation and management planning. He stated that while APFIC remained relevant as a dynamic factor in regional fisheries governance, its future activities required increased support from the Members in order to respond effectively to their needs. He encouraged the Members to take an active part in discussing and making decisions on the future of the Commission.
3. On behalf of FAO, the FAO Representative in the Philippines, Dr. Sang-Mu Lee, delivered an opening speech which stressed the importance of fisheries in the economies of countries in the Asia and the Pacific region. He noted that, as the potential for increasing total fishery production much above present levels was rather limited, better management was required to ensure long-term sustainable development of fishery resources and aquaculture. He referred to the major programmes in fisheries of FAO as well as assistance provided to the member countries in strengthening national capacity in both the public and private sectors. He stated that FAO would continue to provide assistance through the development of technology, strategies and policy as well as advisory and technical services to its member countries. However, he said that FAO’s support is only catalytic in nature and should be complemented by the support, interest and enthusiasm of the member countries themselves. He recognized that APFIC has an important role to play in enhancing the activities which would lead to sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in the region. He therefore requested the participants to consider the recommendations of the APFIC Executive Committee, especially the need for increased support to the Commission, if its objectives and activities are to be realized in the future.
4. The representative of the FAO Fisheries Department, Mr. Z.S. Karnicki, Director of the Fishery Policy and Planning Division, was then invited to give a statement to the Commission. He recognized the achievements of APFIC in the past 52 years and the need for active support and advice from its Members on the appropriate programmes of work for the future. He noted that, at the Ad hoc High-level Consultation on the Future of APFIC held in Rome in March 2001, there was a mixed reaction from the Members as to its future. In particular, some Members felt that the current status of APFIC was no longer valid as there was no clearly defined financial support. He emphasized that APFIC belonged to its Members, not to FAO, and that the Members should discuss its future thoroughly at this Session so that a decision could be made.
5. Inaugurating the Session, the Honorable Mr. Leonardo Q. Montemayor, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, noted the birth of APFIC in Baguio City, Philippines in 1948. He cited the valuable assistance provided by APFIC to its Members in the rational development and sustainable utilization of fishery resources in the Asia-Pacific region. Through the years, the Commission has expanded and revised its role, responsibilities and activities to meet the evolving challenges of the fisheries sector in the region. He recognized that the Members have benefited and continue to benefit from the Commission’s projects and initiatives. For its future direction, however, he noted the current predicament of the Commission was due to the lack of commitment to financial support by the Members. He therefore asked the Members to determine the future of the Commission after deciding its relevance in facing emerging issues and concerns. The Philippine delegation would do its share in discussing these serious matters.
6. The Secretary of Agriculture further informed the Commission of the recent Tuna Fisheries Congress held in the southern Philippines which was attended by both national and foreign tuna experts including the representatives from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Congress had for its theme: “Fish Without Borders - Moving Towards Regionalization”. The concept of an eco-region was discussed together with the emerging trend towards rational management, exploitation and sustainable utilization of large but contiguous marine resources. He stressed the need for the Members in the Asia-Pacific region to demonstrate in concrete terms, the political will, managerial expertise, financial creativity and collaborative capacity, to formulate a course of action to achieve and ensure a sustainable future for these shared fishery resources in the region.
