Milestones

1990s

SEAFDEC has established linkage with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and the collaboration has been strengthened with the establishment of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group (FCG) Mechanism in 1998. SEAFDEC members also gradually increased from the original members to cover all the ASEAN Member Countries in 2003; while the cooperation between the two organizations has been intensified. SEAFDEC also received support from the ASEAN Foundation in implementation of activities, aiming to support sustainable fisheries, and reduce disparities among countries in the region.

2001

SEAFDEC organized the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New Millennium: “Fish for the People” and came up with the “Resolution” and “Plan of Action” on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region, which are considered as policy framework and priority actions for fisheries development of the region. SEAFDEC has been supporting Member Countries in the implementation of the Resolution and Plan of Action through the Special 5-year Program on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the ASEAN Region, as well as other FCG Programs.

2003

SEAFEC organized the Seminar on ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for Sustainable Fisheries through SEAFDEC where the ASEAN Vision “To be the leader in sustainable tropical fisheries for the people”, was adopted by Senior Officials responsible for fisheries in ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries. The ASEAN Vision is one of the important policy frameworks for SEAFDEC for formulation and implementation of activities.

2007

In October 2007, the cooperation between ASEAN and SEAFDEC was formalized with the establishment of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (ASSP). The ASSP is envisaged to provide clear framework, responsibility and working mechanism in order to enhance the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts. In addition, under the ASSP framework, SEAFDEC also supports the implementation of the ASEAN Roadmap for Integration of Fisheries Sector, considering that the initiative would support the implementation of the Roadmap by ASEAN Member Countries.

2011 

The ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 “Fish for the People 2020: Adaptation to a Changing Environment” was organized on 13-17 June 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. During the Conference, the “Resolution” and “Plan of Action” on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2020 were adopted by the Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for fisheries of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries to serve as policy frameworks and priority actions for enhancing the contribution from fisheries to food security and improved livelihood of people in the region.

2016

The “High-level Consultation on Regional Cooperation in Sustainable Fisheries Development Towards the ASEAN Economic Community: Combating IUU Fishing and Enhancing the Competitiveness of ASEAN Fish and Fishery Products” was organized on 3 August 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Senior Officials of ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries attended in the Consultation, and adopted the “Joint ASEAN-SEAFDEC Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Enhancing the Competitiveness of ASEAN Fish and Fishery Products” that signified the seriousness of countries in the region in enhancing cooperation to combat IUU fishing.

2020

The Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030 were prepared by the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries in collaboration with the ASEAN and SEAFDEC, and were adopted by the ASEAN Senior Officials and Ministers during the Special Senior Officials’ Meeting of the 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry on 5 August 2020 and the 42nd Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry on 21 October 2020, as well as the Senior Official and Minister responsible for fisheries of Japan ad referendum. The Resolution and Plan of Action are envisaged to serve as policy framework and priority actions to support sustainable development of fisheries and enhancing the contribution of fisheries to food security and better livelihood of people in the region towards the coming decade.