Information Collection of Highly Migratory Species in Southeast Asia Waters

( 2008 )

1. INTRODUCTION

Tuna species are ones of the highly migratory species, have the greatest commercial value of the tunas and billfish resource of the World. In the Southeast Asia waters tunas are also commercially important marine resource for exports to the Japan and EC countries, as well as for the domestic consumptions as valuable protein resource. Linkage to the neighboring Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMOs) namely IOTC and WCPFC, Southeast Asian Region is identified under those RFMOs. At present, stock structure of tuna distributed in the region particularly in the south china sea are still unclear and without the knowledge of the real stock structure, appropriate resource management at national level cannot be achieved. Tuna longline and artisonal purse seine associated with FADs are the most important gears operated in the in the South China sea areas and neighboring sea down to the West-central Pacific ocean . Under such a situation, SEAFDEC proposed to conduct the information collection of the tuna production harvested in the South China Sea covering three main countries namely The Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia and other SEAFDEC member countries .

2. OBJECTIVES

     1) To evaluate the Status of tuna fisheries in the South China Sea and West Central Pacific Ocean included in the EEZ of the following countries the Philippines , Indonesia , Vietnam

     2) To develop tuna database based on tuna landing sites information

     3) To conduct the observer program for data collection onboard Commercial fishing vessels

     4) To form of the working group party on information collection of tuna fisheries from concerned member countries

3. ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 2008

     Information Collection of Highly Migratory Species in Southeast Asia Waters

     1. Consultation/Working Party Meeting
     - Consultation visit/preparatory work for data collection and follow-up/progress implementation
     - 1st Working party meeting for annual plan finalization
     - Participation of the national/international tuna conference/ meeting for data collection

     2. Development of Tuna Database
      - Review data worksheet for information collection and Designing all data inputs and outputs of the outcome
     - Development of Regional database for Online Access

     3. Identification of Tuna Fishing Grounds (no Act)

     4. Data collection from Landing/Observer
     - Data Collection from Landing
     - Data analysis

Expected Outcome:  

     1. Status of tuna fisheries in the South China Sea and West Central Pacific Ocean included in the EEZ of the following countries the Philippines , Indonesia , Vietnam .

     2. Tuna database based on tuna landing sites information

     3. Conduct the observer program for data collection onboard Commercial fishing vessels

     4. Formation of the working group party on information collection of tuna fisheries from concerned member countries