Challenges of Sustainable Use of Marine Resources in ASEAN

Nazir Foead

Conservation Director, WWF Indonesia

Roundtable for ASEAN Chief Justices on Environment5-7 December 2011, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia

The Coral Triangle

Nearly 6 million km2, spanning:Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor L’Este

Biodiversity: 75% of global coral reef, over 3000 species of reef fish

Linked by market and migratory routes:Australia, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, …

Economy:Tuna from CT traded worth $1.5 billion and coral reef related fishery $2.2 billion annually, food sources for 120 million people in the region and 36% protein dietary

Seychelles

Maldives

BangladeshMyanmar

Thailand Philippines

PalauMarshall Is.

Kiribati

Fiji

Solomon Is.

Malaysia

Indonesia

China

Australia

PapuaNew

Guinea

HongKong

Sri Lanka

Following Sadovy & Vincent 2002

Growing Live Reef Fish Trade

1970s

1980s

1990s

Beyond National Jurisdiction: A case of leather back turtle

Challenges

• IUU (estimated at $1.4 billion in Indonesia annually) in EEZ, high seas

• Overexploitation• Weak MCS • Law enforcement• Ecosystem disintegration/

destruction

• Increasing demand of seafood

• Fishermen livelihood remains low

• ‘Uncoordinated’ policies (between local and national governments, among states, e.g. UN Fish Stocks Agreement)

“Lacey Act” Model in ASEAN

• The law recognizes the illegal terms regulated by foreign law that protects the species

• It applies to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase activities.

• The law prohibited the trade and transportation of illegally captured or protected species across states and countries

Building common interests in the region

• IUU and overexploitation endanger food security and economic development, it happens in most ASEAN countries either involving domestic or foreign vessels

• Fish stocks have to be seen as “common properties” which need to be regulated and used mutually in the region

• Strong coordination among ASEAN states will increase leverage to influence the international market and policies