Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission Menasveta, D. ABSTRACT The paper reviews the needs for strengthening the role of
regional fishery bodies in the Asia-Pacific region as there is a rapid fisheries
development resulting in the depletion of many fish stocks in the region. These
regional bodies should be provided with proper mandates to ensure the
sustainability of the resources use. As for APFIC, due to its financial
constraints, its changing role is suggested to 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. |