APFIC. 2012. Report of the Fourth APFIC Regional Consultative Forum Meeting, Improving management and governance of fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region, Da Nang, Viet Nam, 17–19 September 2012. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, RAP Publication 2012/25, 110 p.   The Fourth Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) Regional Consultative Forum Meeting, Improving management and governance of fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region was convened in Da Nang, Viet Nam, 17–19 September 2012. As part of the APFIC strategy for communicating issues and building regional understanding, the fourth Regional Consultative Forum Meeting (RCFM) was held to precede the Thirty-second Session of APFIC and acted as a regional briefing on the activities of the Commission and her member countries. It also provided an opportunity to get an update on the work of various regional partner organizations that are relevant to the programme of work of the Commission. The meeting was attended by 73 participants from 16 countries and representatives from 12 regional partner organizations and projects.   The Fourth Regional Consultative Forum Meeting, identified a series of regional challenges based on reviews of regional fisheries and aquaculture, presentations by member countries and regional organizations, and reports of action plans of APFIC regional consultative workshops, and developed concrete recommendations on what needs to be done to address them in the Asian region. Key challenges included more effective management of the trawl fisheries of the region and the responsible production of fishmeal. Effective fisheries management requires improved understanding of the changes affecting the resources of the fishery sector and increased adoption of science-based approaches to marine protected areas, habitat enhancement and seasonal closures. The RCFM identified the need for stronger governance to address fisheries overcapacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region. Recommendations also covered the improvement of small-scale fisheries livelihoods and the need for improved planning and management of aquaculture for food security and social and economic benefit. Inland fisheries were noted as important to the region and the appropriate valuation of the role and importance of these resources was emphasized.    Many of these challenges are significantly influenced by the effects of climate variability and the RCFM highlighted the need to take this into account when developing responses to these challenges. APFIC member countries, regional organizations and partners recognize that the APFIC RCFM is a unique mechanism in the Asian region that allows the sharing of understanding and awareness of fisheries and aquaculture issues in the region and contributes to greater efficiency and reduction of overlap. This is based around one of the core functions of FAO, which houses the Secretariat of APFIC, which is to provide a neutral forum for the consideration of regional challenges in the fisheries and aquaculture subsectors. The Forum also allows greater opportunities for effective networking and coordination between members and regional organizations. The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission is strengthening these networks and the further contribution of the Commission’s work to supporting the region’s fishery and aquaculture subsectors.