One of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, the Southeast Asia seas serve as a major source of food and livelihood for hundreds of millions of people and generate several billion dollars in GDP for the region. Fish and marine products are among the most traded goods globally. However, illegal fishing tactics and overfishing threaten the ecosystem’s very existence.
IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing occurs region-wide, and violators range from small-scale local fishermen to commercial fishing trawlers. With weak fishing regulations contributing to the increasing demand and low supply, overlapping maritime jurisdictions should be treated as joint priority concerns.
The Asia Foundation reports that to prevent the collapse of the fishing industry, all countries fishing in the region would need to cease all IUU fishing practices and reduce harvest by nearly 50 percent.
A toxic method of live reef fishing using cyanide to kill fish and reefs.
Discarded or abandoned fishing gear that continues to ensnare sea life.
Indiscriminately kills sea life using dynamite or grenades.
Boats drag nets over the ocean floor, obliterating anything in its path.
New investment is needed to push government and non-governmental actors within Southeast Asia to move away from destructive business-as-usual practices to new, sustainable patterns of fisheries management.
The Mekong River is shared by six countries and provides economic resources to millions of people. But the river and those who rely on it are in trouble due to overfishing and habitat degradation from climate change and man-made structures. The regional organizations and governments are attempting to set rules and regulations to restore the river; however, the Mekong River Commission points out that there is a huge disparity between identifying the issues and the government addressing the issues. New investment in the region would bridge this gap by working with the community and governments to bring bustling life and prosperity back to the banks of the Mekong River.
As the most biodiverse marine environment in the world, the Coral Triangle is a major source of seafood-derived products for the region and the only reef designated as a UNESCO heritage. The conservation of the Coral Triangle is paramount, and regional stakeholders are addressing threats such as overfishing and habitat loss. Still, opposing interests that put profit over conservation have made it difficult to enforce policies that follow established scientific guidelines while balancing the interests of stakeholders, resulting in weak management. Sustainable growth and investment are the keys to ensuring this precious habitat is protected while still supporting the people who rely on it as their livelihoods.
The fishing industry has a clear gap to be bridged towards more sustainable and ethical practices. Exporting countries are implementing technologies/policies on their end of trade to verify that fishing products have been illegally traded.
New and old stakeholders in the region can mend decades of fishery mismanagement, which would create green job opportunities across Southeast Asia, allowing for SEA fisheries and fishermen to increase profit, while protecting the marine ecosystems.
Electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) systems collect real-time, accurate and verifiable information at all points along the seafood supply chain, from point of catch through to landing, processing, transport, and export.
Greenpeace’s 2018 report, ‘Southeast Asia’s Tuna Cannery Ranking,’ focused on tuna canneries and brands in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. Greenpeace found that these companies are taking steps towards a more traceable, sustainable and worker-friendly industry.
Ecotourism in Southeast Asia connects the world to the dedicated conservation efforts underway in the region. With thousands of acres of rainforest and hundreds of new species being discovered on the island nations, ecotourism is the best possible way to educate tourists about threatened habitats through a memorable adventure that’s sure to garner lifelong support.
Across the globe, resources determine the economy of a region. In Southeast Asia, sustainable management and use of its unique natural resources are pivotal to local communities and global future generations.
Empowering workers in Southeast Asia with education and skills training will be the key to the region’s sustained development. Improvements to the workforce will lead to increased economic and human development in the region.
