A draft of a new fisheries improvement protocol for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is now up for public comment.
A steering committee of 25 industry and non-government stakeholders wrote the draft and are taking comments through 15 November via email at [email protected].
According to a statement the committee, the purpose of the proposed protocol is to ensure ASEAN fishermen work by international fishing standards. The proposal is also designed to ensure seafood products from the region are properly labeled and sustainable.
“Good fisheries management is needed to prevent further decline and rebuild marine ecosystems in the region,” ASEAN said in a statement. “Without the use of sustainable practices, the depletion of fish will lead to serious negative consequences for both the environment and the future economic output of the countries in Southeast Asia.”
The new proposal comes as ASEAN prepares for the new ASEAN Economic Community, expected to form in 2015.
The steering committee plans to finalize the protocol in the first half of 2015.
