Policy Recommendations and Ways Forward
(Through the 2nd Meeting of the Scientific Working Group on Neritic Tuna Stock Assessment in the Southeast Asian Waters)
I. Genetic Study
- A total of sampling sites for genetic study of neritic tunas (Longtail tuna, Kawakawa) is 24 sites covering South China Sea (including Gulf of Thailand) and Andaman Sea. Reference points are from General Santos Port, the Philippines and Pekalongan (central Java), Indonesia.
- To facilitate in exporting of the samplings from respective country to MFRDMD for analysis, the official letter requesting for country permission will be sent out by the Secretariat.
- SOPs for Genetic study and data collection will be revised and finalized based on the comments.
II. Other Recommendations
- The meeting supports the proposed proposal from MFRDMD on the Impact of rising temperature to the stock and migratory patterns of neritic tuna, taking into account the results from this may be supported to the stock assessment Study in near future;
- The meeting suggests SEAFDEC to conduct the study on “Utilization of Neritic Tunas”.
- Brunei Darussalam is suggested to conduct the morphology study to solve a problem on species identification.
III. Stock Assessment (SA)
- The meeting supports the conduct of stock assessment of neritic tunas using the “Production Model” in the 1st stage of SA.
- Longtail tuna and Kawakawa are the target species of Stock Assessment during a period from 2015-2016.
- SWG members are requested to reviews all available country information and data related to both species (LOT and KAW) using the Data Template.
- Further communication between MFRDMD (Dr. Abe), Resource person (Dr. TOM Nishida) and respective SWG member for data requirements of the Stock assessment are encouraged.
IV. Research Cooperation
- Compile and re-analyze all available data from the past research program from SEAFDEC to support the scientific research works related to neritic tunas.
- Develop the EAFM approach based on the integrated data and information from the past surveys.
V. Capacity Building Needs
Objective I: Determining available data and information, improving data collection and developing key indicators
| Capacity Building Needs |
Type of Capacity Building |
Beneficiaries/Target Clientele |
| Neritic tuna species identification and biological information |
TOT Training (on-site) |
Data enumerators, observers, port inspectors, scientists, other key data informants, experts |
| Capacity building to collect neritic tuna data |
Training (on-site) |
Port officers, enumerator |
| Statistics and data collection (including standardizing the stock assessment methodology and data collection) |
Workshop |
Managers, researchers, statisticians |
| Assess CPUE, stocks status to calculate based on catch data and fishing effort |
Training and Workshop |
Managers, researchers, experts |
| Tuna larvae identification |
Regional Training |
Researchers |
VI. Timetables
| Activity |
Schedule |
| Permission letter to countries for tissue sample transhipment |
By 24 June 2015 |
| Genetic study: sampling and analysis |
Aug 2015 – Aug 2017 |
| Stock Assessment for Longtail tuna and Kawakawa |
July 2015 – Aug 2016 |
| - Compilation of historical data in the template |
July – Dec 2015 |
| - Data quality control and validation by Dr. Tsutomu Nishida and Dr. Osamu Abe (subject to available resources) |
Jan – Mar 2016 |
| - Training of Trainers (TOT) on CPUE standardization and stock assessment analysis (one potential researcher from Member Country would be selected) |
April – Aug 2016 |
