INTRODUCTION

Throughout the Southeast Asian region, tunas are commonly found and abundant, including several species of oceanic and neritic tunas. While the oceanic tunas migrate over larger areas, the neritic tunas such as longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol), kawakawa or eastern little tuna (Euthynnus affinis), frigate tuna (Auxis thazard) and bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) are more common within the economic zones and sub-regional seas of Southeast Asia. In common, all tuna resources have a high economically importance generating export revenues for the countries of the region as well as to provide important protein sources for domestic consumption. While availability of oceanic tuna has been declining, neritic tuna species are gaining more economic importance. Neritic tuna species have increasingly become the target for commercial and local fisheries as attractive prices are offered by processing companies. However, there are still uncertainties on the distribution, migration utilization of tuna stocks in the waters and sub-regions of Southeast Asia. Without further clarification and dialogue, it would be difficult to develop appropriate tuna management plans at national and sub-regional levels.

While management efforts with regards to the exploitation of oceanic tunas is covered by recommendations provided by the Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the West Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), there are important work to be done within the Southeast Asian Region to promote common approaches to management of the utilization of neritic tunas. To ensure the sustainable use of available regional resources and to maximize economic benefits for the Region, it is crucial to seek for collaborative management plans for neritic tuna fisheries in the region and sub-regions. Regional collaboration has been, and will continue to be, crucial for the sustainability of these rich and important trans-boundary resources. This was also emphasized by the 45th SEAFDEC Council Meeting in 2013 that called for the development of a plan of action regional cooperation on neritic tunas in the Southeast Asian Region (paragraphs 65, 66 and 70 of the SEAFDEC Council Report).

During the 45th SEAFDEC Council Meeting, the SEAFDEC Council Directors supported a proposal to strengthen regional cooperation to promote conservation and management for sustainable neritic tuna fisheries in the Southeast Asian Waters as proposed by SEAFDEC Secretariat. Through regional and sub-regional cooperation the countries – and producers – need to be able to show and verify the sustainability of targeted neritic tuna fisheries.