This document reviews the need for strengthening the role of regional fishery bodies in Asia-Pacific. Rapid fisheries development is taking place in the region resulting in the depletion of many fish stocks. Regional bodies should be provided with proper mandates to ensure the environmental sustainability of fisheries resources. As for APFIC, the meeting suggested that it concentrate its activities in three subregions, namely, the Yellow Sea, the South China Sea and the Bay of Bengal. These activities should cover fisheries information and data management, marine fisheries management, fisheries policies and planning and a regional consultative forum in coordinating fishery activities among various international fishery bodies in the region.