Azlan Othman
The importance of aquatic food role in national food security in ASEAN was highlighted by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Dr Simon Funge Smith virtually on the final day of the Sustaining Marine Biodiversity Through Blue Economy Symposium on ‘Fisheries & Oceans Canada; Conservation and Protection, Canada’s Efforts & Partnership in the Fight against Illegal Fishing’ to mark Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (Brunei MYCE 2023) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam yesterday.
He added that capture fishery sector contributed to 6.5 million jobs in the capture fishery primary sector.
Dr Smith also said the total output in the ASEAN aquaculture sector, including seaweeds, is at 24.5 million tonnes while fish, crustacean and mollusk contributed to 15 per cent of the global total.
Another speaker Chief of International Enforcement for Conservation and Protection at Canada’s Fisheries and Oceans Department Sean Wheeler highlighted the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing around the world, and how the Canadian agency is working in partnerships with countries, technology providers and non-governmental organisations to combat the issue.
He also noted Canada’s use of satellite data to detect and track illegal fishing, as well as its operations in the high seas to uphold international agreements.
